What does "copula" mean?
A word, usually a verb, used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (usually a subject complement or an adverbial), that unites or associates the subject with the predicate.
Copula
/ˈkɒpjʊlə/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A word, usually a verb, used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (usually a subject complement or an adverbial), that unites or associates the subject with the predicate.
- Grammar: copula is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: linking verb, adultery, auxiliary, carnal knowledge.
- Useful contrasts: independence, noncopular verb.
- Usage evidence: In grammar, a copula is often represented by the verb "to be".
How to use "copula"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "copula" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "copula" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "copula" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "copula" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "copula" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "linking verb" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "copula", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A word, usually a verb, used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (usually a subject complement or an adverbial), that unites or associates the subject with the predicate.
"I begin by arguing in section 2 that there are in fact at least two Celtic copulas, a grammatical copula that simply spells out tense and agreement, and a substantive copula formed on a lexically listed verbal stem."
- 2 an equating verb (such as ‘be’ or ‘become’) that links the subject with the complement of a sentence wordnet
- 3 The bond or relationship by which two things are combined into a unity.
"The fact that in milk the copula or bond is exceedingly slight is evident from the spontaneous resolution of milk when left in a vessel, its resolution, namely, into cream—a white substance of comparative consistency,—and a sourish fluid; also from its ready resolution when, merely by motion, it is turned into butter, or, by heat, into various kinds of curds."
- 4 A function that represents the association between two or more variables, independent of the individual marginal distributions of the variables.
"In 2000, David X. Li, a banker with a doctorate in statistics who was then at RiskMetrics, part of J. P. Morgan Chase, began using mathematical functions called Gaussian copulas to estimate the likelihood of corporations’ dying in unison."
- 5 A device that connects two or more keyboards of an organ.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The act of copulation; mating.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
independencenoncopular verb
Example
"In grammar, a copula is often represented by the verb "to be"."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "copula"?
Common synonyms include: linking verb, adultery, auxiliary, carnal knowledge, climax, cohabitation.
How do you use "copula" in a sentence?
In grammar, a copula is often represented by the verb "to be".
How do you pronounce "copula"?
Pronounced /ˈkɒpjʊlə/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cōpula (“connection, linking of words”), from co- (“together”) + apere (“fasten”). Doublet of couple.