clone

clone — noun

1. A living thing — such as a plant, animal, or cell — that carries exactly the sam

1.nounB2
Definition

A living thing — such as a plant, animal, or cell — that carries exactly the same genetic information as another living thing, created by taking a cell from the original instead of through normal reproduction.

Example

The laboratory created a clone of the sheep using cells taken from the original adult.

clone + of + [organism] for exact genetic replica

Scientists confirmed that the clone had DNA identical to the donor mouse.

Common collocations
  • genetically identical
  • donor cell
  • laboratory
  • Dolly the sheep
  • embryo
Synonyms
  • copy

    more general, not limited to living things

  • replica

    physical object duplicate, not used for organisms

Antonyms
  • original

    the source organism from which the clone was made

  • parent

    the donor organism that provided the genetic material

Grammar Patterns

clone of [organism]

Usage Note

Countable noun. Often used in scientific contexts involving genetics or biotechnology. The original organism is called the 'donor'.

Common Mistakes

The clone was created from a single hair.
The clone was created from a single cell.
Clones are made from cells containing DNA, not from hair itself.

2. Someone or something whose appearance or behaviour is nearly identical to that o

2.nounB1
Definition

Someone or something whose appearance or behaviour is nearly identical to that of another person or object, often in a way that surprises or amuses people.

Example

Everyone says Priya is a clone of her mother because they have the same smile.

clone of [person] for strong physical resemblance

The new smartphone is a clone of the leading brand but costs half the price.

Common collocations
  • dead ringer
  • exact copy
  • carbon copy
  • striking resemblance
Synonyms
  • copy

    neutral, less vivid than clone

  • lookalike

    only used for people, not objects

  • spitting image

    stronger emphasis on visual resemblance; informal

  • replica

    formal; mainly used for objects, not people

Antonyms
  • original

    the genuine person or thing being copied

Grammar Patterns

clone of [person/thing]

Usage Note

Common in informal conversation. Often followed by 'of' + a specific person, brand, or object name. Can be used humorously or to express mild disapproval about lack of originality.

Common Mistakes

She is clone of her sister.
She is a clone of her sister.
The countable noun clone always needs an article (a/an/the).

3. A computer, device, or piece of software that is designed to work in the same wa

3.nounB2
Definition

A computer, device, or piece of software that is designed to work in the same way as a more famous or expensive original, often by imitating its design or features.

Example

The store sells a cheap clone of the popular tablet at half the price.

clone of [product] for compatible alternative

Ravi chose a clone of the expensive laptop with the same ports and speed.

Common collocations
  • IBM-compatible
  • PC clone
  • cheaper alternative
  • hardware
  • brand-name original
Synonyms
  • imitation

    broader meaning; suggests lower quality more strongly

  • knockoff

    informal; implies an illegal or unauthorised copy

  • compatible

    adjective, not a noun; describes function rather than origin

Antonyms
  • original

    the genuine branded product

  • authentic

    describes a product made by the official manufacturer

Grammar Patterns

clone of [product]

Usage Note

Countable. Originally used in the 1980s for 'IBM-compatible' PCs, now extends to any imitation hardware, software, or device. Typically implies a cheaper alternative that sacrifices some build quality or support.

clone — verb

Word family

  • cloning
    nounB2
  • cloned
    adjectiveB2
  • cloner
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All these words describe things that closely resemble an original. Clone is the most vivid and often suggests an exact duplicate — in everyday use it can apply to people who look strikingly similar or to products that imitate a brand. Copy is the broadest and most neutral term, covering everything from photocopies to imitated behaviours. Duplicate is more formal than copy and strongly emphasises complete identicalness — a duplicate key opens the same lock, whereas a clone of a phone may look identical but lack the same internals. Replica is usually reserved for physical objects, especially art, historical items, or collectibles where someone has carefully recreated the original's appearance. Lookalike refers almost exclusively to people who resemble a famous person, while spitting image is an informal and emphatic phrase for the same idea. For example, you might buy a replica of a Roman coin, but you would say your friend is a clone of his brother or a spitting image of their father.

copy ↗duplicate ↗replica ↗lookalike ↗spitting image

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • create a clone
  • produce a clone
  • be a clone of
  • clone oneself

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Clone comes from the Greek word klōn (κλών), meaning 'twig' or 'slip' — a cutting taken from a plant. The word entered English in the early 1900s when botanists needed a term for plants grown from cuttings that were genetically identical to the parent. In the 1960s and 1970s, as scientists began to experiment with animal cloning, the word spread into popular science and everyday language. The computing sense emerged in the 1980s when companies started making cheaper computers that worked the same way as IBM's original PC. The general meaning of 'any exact copy' followed soon after.