replicate

Definitions

re- (again, back) + plic (fold) + -ate = "to fold again." When you fold a sheet exactly over an earlier crease, you reproduce the same shape — that re-folding is replicating. The scientific sense follows directly: to replicate a study is to fold the same procedure over again and see if you get the same result. A replica is the folded-again copy itself.

Common Collocations

• 1.replicate results重现结果
• 2.replicate a study重复研究
• 3.replicate success复制成功
• 4.replicate findings再现研究发现

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Scientists tried to replicate the experiment but got different results.

• 2.

  It's hard to replicate that level of success twice.

• 3.

  The virus replicates inside host cells.

Easily Confused

replicate vs copy vs duplicate — copy is the everyday word (copy a file). duplicate stresses making one identical second version (a duplicate key). replicate is more technical, used in science and engineering for reproducing a process or result faithfully (replicate an experiment), not just a physical object.