replication

/ˈrɛpləˌkeɪʃən/

/rɛplɪˈkeɪʃən/

Other forms: replications

If you make a copy of something, like a form or a picture, you have made a replication of it. You might need to mail in a replication of your tax forms when you apply for college financial aid.

When you conduct an experiment, you have to repeat it several times to verify that your hypothesis is correct. Each repetition is one replication. A witty retort to a comment or question is also called a replication. Your replications to the teacher's questions may make your classmates laugh, but your smart mouth is bound to get you in trouble eventually.

Definitions of replication

1. noun

   the act of making copies
   synonyms: reproduction

   types:

   scanning

   the act of systematically moving a finely focused beam of light or electrons over a surface in order to produce an image of it for analysis or transmission

   sound reproduction

   the reproduction of sound

   hi-fi, high fidelity

   the reproduction of sound with little or no distortion

   playback

   the act of reproducing recorded sound

   type of:

   copying

   an act of copying
2. noun

   (genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division
   type of:

   biological process, organic process

   a process occurring in living organisms
3. noun

   copy that is not the original; something that has been copied
   synonyms: replica, reproduction

   types:

   toy

   a nonfunctional replica of something else (frequently used as a modifier)

   type of:

   copy

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

   a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
   synonyms: comeback, counter, rejoinder, retort, return, riposte

   types:

   back talk, backtalk, lip, mouth, sass, sassing

   an impudent or insolent rejoinder

   type of:

   reply, response

   the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange
5. noun

   (law) a pleading made by a plaintiff in reply to the defendant's plea or answer
   type of:

   pleading

   (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
6. noun

   the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
   synonyms: echo, reverberation, sound reflection

   types:

   re-echo

   the echo of an echo

   type of:

   reflection, reflectivity, reflexion

   the ability to reflect beams or rays
7. noun

   the repetition of an experiment in order to test the validity of its conclusion
   “scientists will not believe an experimental result until they have seen at least one replication”

   type of:

   repeating, repetition

   the act of doing or performing again