clone

The word “clone” means a living thing produced from a single ancestor so that it is genetically identical to it. In plain terms, an exact copy of a living thing, or more loosely, any close copy or imitation.

“Clone” is pronounced klohn (/kloʊn/ in IPA).

Here is “clone” used in a sentence: “Scientists created the first cloned mammal, a sheep named Dolly, in 1996.”

Depending on how it is used, “clone” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “clone” dates back to around 1903 and comes from Greek. Coined in 1903 from Greek klōn, "twig" — the idea being a new plant grown from a cutting. The figurative sense (a copy of a person or thing) only caught on in the 1970s.

“Clone” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Clone” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a living thing produced from a single ancestor so that it is genetically identical to it.

A clone is a living thing produced from a single ancestor so that it is genetically identical to it, created through a deliberate biological or laboratory process. Identical twins, by contrast, form naturally when a single fertilized egg splits into two, so while they share the same genetic origin, they are not described as clones of each other in the technical sense.

Yes, clone is commonly used as a verb outside biology to mean producing an exact or close functional copy of something, such as cloning a hard drive, a website, or a piece of software. This extends the core meaning of making an identical copy beyond living organisms.

A clone is made to closely imitate something else, often replicating its function or appearance almost exactly, while the term knockoff usually implies a cheaper, inferior imitation made without authorization. Both describe copies, but 'clone' can be used more neutrally, including for genetic copies, while 'knockoff' carries a stronger negative connotation.