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Photocopy
A ‘photocopier’ (also known as a copier or copy machine) is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. Most current photocopiers use a technology called xerography, a dry process that uses electrostatic charges on a light-sensitive photoreceptor to first attract and then transfer toner particles (a powder) onto paper in the form of an image. Heat, pressure or a combination of both is then used to fuse the toner onto the paper. (Copiers can also use other technologies such as ink jet, but xerography is standard for office copying.) Earlier versions included the Gestetner stencil duplicator, invented by David Gestetner in 1881.
Commercial xerographic office photocopying was introduced by Xerox in 1959, and it gradually replaced copies made by Verifax, Photostat, carbon paper, mimeograph machines, and other duplicating machines.
Photocopying is widely used in the business, education, and government sectors. While there have been predictions that photocopiers will eventually become obsolete as information workers increase their use of digital document creation, storage and distribution, and rely less on distributing actual pieces of paper, as of 2015, photocopiers continue to be widely used. In the 2010s, there is a convergence in some high-end machines between the roles of a photocopier, a fax machine, a scanner, and a computer network-connected printer into a multi-function printer. Lower-end machines that can copy and print in color have increasingly dominated the home-office market as their prices fell steadily through 2017. Higher-end color photocopiers capable of handling heavy duty cycles and large-format printing remain a costlier specialty for print and design shops.
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Photocopy (noun)
A copy made using a photocopier.
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Photocopy (verb)
To make a copy using a photocopier.
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Copy (noun)
The result of copying; an identical duplicate of an original.
“Please bring me the copies of those reports.”
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Copy (noun)
An imitation, sometimes of inferior quality.
“That handbag is a copy. You can tell because the buckle is different.”
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Copy (noun)
The text that is to be typeset.
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Copy (noun)
A gender-neutral abbreviation for copy boy.
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Copy (noun)
The output of copywriters, who are employed to write material which encourages consumers to buy goods or services.
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Copy (noun)
The text of newspaper articles.
“Submit all copy to the appropriate editor.”
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Copy (noun)
A school work pad.
“Tim got in trouble for forgetting his maths copy.”
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Copy (noun)
A printed edition of a book or magazine.
“Have you seen the latest copy of “Newsweek” yet?”
“The library has several copies of the Bible.”
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Copy (noun)
Writing paper of a particular size, called also bastard.
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Copy (noun)
That which is to be imitated, transcribed, or reproduced; a pattern, model, or example.
“His virtues are an excellent copy for imitation.”
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Copy (noun)
An abundance or plenty of anything.
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Copy (noun)
copyhold; tenure; lease
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Copy (noun)
(genetics) The result of gene or chromosomal duplication.
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Copy (verb)
To produce an object identical to a given object.
“Please copy these reports for me.”
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Copy (verb)
To place a copy of an object in memory for later use.
“First copy the files, and then paste them in another directory.”
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Copy (verb)
To imitate.
“Don’t copy my dance moves.”
“Mom, he’s copying me!”
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Copy (verb)
To receive a transmission successfully.
“Do you copy?”
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Copy (noun)
a thing made to be similar or identical to another
“the problem is telling which is the original document and which the copy”
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Copy (noun)
a single specimen of a particular book, record, or other publication or issue
“the record has sold more than a million copies”
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Copy (noun)
matter to be printed
“copy for the next issue must be submitted by the beginning of the month”
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Copy (noun)
material for a newspaper or magazine article
“it is an unfortunate truth of today’s media that bad news makes good copy”
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Copy (noun)
the text of an advertisement
“‘No more stubble—no more trouble,’ trumpeted their ad copy”
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Copy (noun)
a blank booklet or notebook used for schoolwork
“you need a stock of exercise copies, A4 refill pads, and maths copies”
“examinees will not be allowed to take pens, copies, or water bottles inside the test centre”
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Copy (verb)
make a similar or identical version of; reproduce
“each form had to be copied and sent to a different department”
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Copy (verb)
reproduce (data stored in one location) in another location
“the command will copy a file from one disc to another”
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Copy (verb)
write out information that one has read or heard
“I began to copy out the addresses”
“he copied the details into his notebook”
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Copy (verb)
send a copy of a letter or an email to (a third party)
“I thought I’d copy to you this letter sent to the PR representative”
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Copy (verb)
send someone a copy of an email that is addressed to a third party
“I attached the document and copied him in so he’d know it had been sent”
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Copy (verb)
imitate the style or behaviour of
“lifestyles that were copied from Miami and Fifth Avenue”
“art students copied from approved old masters”
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Copy (verb)
hear or understand someone speaking on a radio transmitter
“this is Edwards, do you copy, over”