master copy
noun · verb
Simple meaning
An original creation from which copies can be made.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
masterkahpeeSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈmæstɚˈkɑpi
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
business
An original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
business
An original copy of a document, digital file, stencil, or other item that acts as the main version used to create all other copies, such as photocopies, printouts, or duplicates made by various methods.
publishingprinting
The copy that acts as the main or original version among several copies, such as the master proof where changes from other author copies are combined, or a similar master manuscript with edits transferred to it.
verb
transitiveintransitivepublishingprinting
To transfer edits to a master copy from various stakeholders' copies (as for example with multiple authors and editors).
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: An original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
Used this way, master copy is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It turns up most in business or professional contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Where it naturally appears
- Business/professional
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.