clone

/kloʊn/

/kləʊn/

Other forms: cloning; clones; cloned

A clone is an organism that's genetically identical to another organism. The clone of a sheep has the exact same DNA as the original sheep.

While most people are fascinated with the idea of identical clones of animals — or even humans — it's much more common for a biologist to create clones of individual cells or molecules for experimental and other scientific uses. You can also describe someone as a clone if they act or look uncannily like another person: "Your cousin is totally your clone." The word clone was first used in botany, the science of plants, from the Greek klon, "twig."

Definitions of clone

1. noun

   a group of genetically identical cells or organisms derived from a single cell or individual by some kind of asexual reproduction
   synonyms: clon

   type of:

   being, organism

   a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
2. noun

   a person who is almost identical to another
   synonyms: dead ringer, doppelganger, ringer

   type of:

   double, image, look-alike

   someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor)
3. noun

   an unauthorized copy or imitation
   synonyms: knockoff

   type of:

   copy

   a thing made to be similar or identical to another thing
4. verb

   make multiple identical copies of
   “people can clone a sheep nowadays”

   type of:

   copy, re-create

   make a replica of