Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Yielding or containing plenty; affording ample supply: synonym: plentiful.
  • adjective Large in quantity; abundant.
  • adjective Abounding in matter, thoughts, or words; wordy.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Abundant; plentiful; ample; large in quantity or number: as, copious supplies; a copious feast; copious notes of a lecture; copious rain.
  • Exhibiting abundance or fullness, as of thoughts or words.
  • Having an abundant supply; abounding; plenteous; liberal.
  • Synonyms Ample, Copious, Plenteous (see ample), rich, full, exuberant, overflowing, profuse.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Large in quantity or amount; plentiful; abundant; fruitful.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Great in quantity or number, profuse, abundant; taking place on a large scale.
  • adjective Having an abundant supply.
  • adjective Full of thought, information, or matter; exuberant in words, expression, or style.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective affording an abundant supply
  • adjective large in number or quantity (especially of discourse)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Latin cōpiōsus, from cōpia, abundance; see op- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English, from Latin copiosus, copia ("abundance"), from Latin co- + ops ("wealth") + -osus ("full of").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word copious.

Examples

  • The word copious means plentiful in number deriving from the Latin copiosus, from copia, meaning "abundance."

    Forbes.com: News Rick Segal 2011

  • This is of course all secondary to his rigorous super hero training regimen, comprised mostly out of creating “What If?” scenarios with action figures and clocking in copious amounts of time in Batman: Arkham Asylum.

    Roo Medina | Fandomania 2009

  • The two women express their feelings in copious direct discourse.

    Literary Study 2009

  • I must say that as an evening eater, I like the sacrifices of Ramadan since one may pig out upon sunset if I understand the rules and I am an evening eater and drinker (in copious amounts I might add).

    Religious Ceremonies 2009

  • So if you were around yesterday, you know that while trying to engage in copious napping, I also am aiming to gear up for the coming year.

    At the Outfitters Still…Getting Ready for 2010 « Looking for Roots 2009

  • All of which has been documented hereon this site in copious amounts.

    Moveon.org zombie bites off health care protester’s finger. Wait, what? - Moe_Lane’s blog - RedState 2009

  • Not only the intensely personal account of a dedicated vegan, the book is buttressed with a wealth of scholarship, reflected in copious footnotes and a wide-ranging bibliography.

    Cover to Cover 2009

  • I must say that as an evening eater, I like the sacrifices of Ramadan since one may pig out upon sunset if I understand the rules and I am an evening eater and drinker (in copious amounts I might add).

    Religious Ceremonies 2009

  • So if you were around yesterday, you know that while trying to engage in copious napping, I also am aiming to gear up for the coming year.

    2009 December « Looking for Roots 2009

  • I must say that as an evening eater, I like the sacrifices of Ramadan since one may pig out upon sunset if I understand the rules and I am an evening eater and drinker (in copious amounts I might add).

    Religious Ceremonies 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy Name

    Shall be the copious matter of my Song ...

    Milton, Paradise Lost III

    December 19, 2006

  • I hear this word most often in terms of copious amounts of alcohol.

    December 19, 2006

  • I hate this word. It's very condescending, and it pisses me off.

    August 15, 2007

  • adjective: in abundant supply

    In midsummer, there are copious popsicle stands at the beach; in the winter, there are none.

    October 19, 2016