Copious
/ˈkoʊpiəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Copious describes having a lot of something, often more than enough. It is used to talk about large amounts of writing, speech, food, or other things. When something is copious, it is full and plentiful.
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See It in Action
Large in quantity or number
- •She took copious notes during the lecture.
- •The rain fell in copious amounts all night.
- •The author provided copious examples to explain the idea.
Producing or containing a lot
- •The plant produced copious flowers this spring.
- •He gave a copious speech that lasted for hours.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "copious" like "many" or "a lot," but much bigger—like a whole ocean instead of a cup of water
- ✓Picture a big notebook full of notes, pages and pages without empty space
- ✓It's the feeling of having more than you need, like a big dinner with many dishes on the table
- ✓Sounds like "copy us" → imagine someone copying a huge amount of text from a book, filling many pages
- ✓Think of a teacher giving a copious amount of homework, much more than usual
- ✓NOT like "some" or "few" (small amount), "copious" means a very large amount
- ✓NOT like "little" or "scarce" (hard to find), "copious" is the opposite: plenty or overflow
- ✓NOT like "brief" (short), copious means long or large in quantity
Try Other Words
- •Abundant: existing in large amounts (Use when talking about natural resources or general plenty)
- •Plentiful: enough or more than enough (Use in everyday speech about food, supplies, or opportunities)
- •Ample: more than enough in size or amount (Use when emphasizing sufficiency and comfort)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "copi-" from Latin "copia" meaning plenty or supply + "-ous" suffix meaning full of or having the quality of
- •Etymology: From Latin "copiosus," meaning abundant or plentiful
- •Historical development: Used in English from the late 16th century to describe large amounts or plentiful supplies
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in formal or academic contexts to describe large quantities of something, especially writing or speech
Reflect & Connect
•Can having copious amounts of something ever be a problem? When might too much be too much?
•How do you feel when you receive copious information or instructions? Does it help or confuse you?
Fill in the blanks
1.She wrote copious notes during the meeting because the speaker gave ___ information.
2.The garden had copious flowers, showing that the plants received ___ water and care.
3.Unlike a short summary, a copious report usually contains ___ details and explanations.
4.When someone speaks copiously, they often use many ___ to support their ideas.
5.Copious amounts of rain can ___ the soil and help plants grow well.
6.The author’s copious examples made the difficult topic ___ easier to understand.
7.If you have copious homework, you might feel ___ because of the large amount of work.