carbon copy

SEE SYNONYMS FOR carbon copy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

  1. a duplicate of anything written or typed, made by using a photocopier or, formerly, by using carbon paper. Abbreviation: cc
  2. a copy of an email or other electronic document that is sent to one or more people in addition to the primary addressee. Abbreviation: cc
a near or exact duplicate of a given person or thing; replica: She's a carbon copy of her mother.

Origin of carbon copy

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby carbon copy

carbon arc, carbon bisulphide, carbon black, carbon brush, carbon capture, carbon copy, carbon credit, carbon cycle, carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide cycle, carbon dioxide snow

Words related to carbon copy

carbon, clone, copy, double, duplicate, facsimile, imitation, replica, reproduction, twin

British Dictionary definitions for carbon copy

carbon copy

noun

a duplicate copy of writing, typewriting, or drawing obtained by using carbon paper Often shortened to: carbon
informal a person or thing that is identical or very similar to another

Idioms and Phrases with carbon copy

carbon copy

A person or thing that closely resembles another, as in Our grandson is a carbon copy of his dad. Originally this term meant a copy of a document made by using carbon paper. The linguistic transfer to other kinds of duplicate survived the demise of carbon paper (replaced by photocopiers, computer printers, and other more sophisticated devices). [c. 1870]