clone
/kləʊn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A clone is a plant, animal, or cell that has the same genes as another one. It is made from one original, not by normal reproduction.
- The sheep was a clone of the original animal.
- Scientists grew clones of the plant in a lab.
verb
To clone something is to make an exact copy of it. This can mean copying a living thing or copying a computer file, device, or design.
- They cloned the sheep in a laboratory.
- Please clone the file to another folder.
Adinary Nuance
A clone is more exact than a copy. It usually means something made to be nearly identical, especially in biology or technology. Use duplicate for a general copy, and replica for a copied object that may be less exact. In casual speech, people also use clone for something that looks very similar to another thing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bản sao vô tính
- Spanish
- clon
- Chinese
- 克隆
- Japanese
- クローン
- Korean
- 복제
Etymology
Clone comes from Greek klōn, meaning a young shoot or twig. It entered English in the early 20th century, first in biology, then in technology.
Common phrases
clone a cellclone a filea clone of
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is clone a formal word?
- It is common in science and technology, and neutral in everyday use.
- What is the difference between clone and copy?
- A clone is usually an exact biological or digital match. A copy can be less exact.
- Can I use clone for computers?
- Yes. It often means making an exact copy of a file, disk, or system.
- Does clone always mean a living thing?
- No. It can also mean copying software, files, or even a design.