Meaning & Definition
noun
A copy that corresponds to an original exactly.
Please send me a duplicate of the report for my records.
A copy or reproduction of something.
The librarian found an old duplicate of the book in the archives.
verb
To make an exact copy of something.
The technician will duplicate the hard drive for backup purposes.
To repeat or reproduce.
She tried to duplicate the experiment to confirm the results.
adjective
Being an exact copy of another.
He received a duplicate key for his apartment.
Having or being two identical parts.
The design had a duplicate section that needed to be modified.
Etymology
From Latin 'duplicare', meaning 'to double'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
duplicate efforts:
To do the same work or task that has already been done.
duplicate keys:
Keys that have been copied from an original to allow access to the same locks.
duplicate ticket:
A second version of a ticket that allows entry to an event.
Slang Meanings
A person or thing that is a bad copy of the original.
That movie was just a duplicate of the first one, not worth watching.
An imposter or someone who pretends to be someone else.
He's such a duplicate of that famous singer, it's kind of funny.