replicate
gb/ɹˈɛplɪkˌeɪt/ us/ɹˈɛplɪkˌeɪt/
B2
English
~ 7100
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
make an exact copy
to make something that is the same as something else
Usage pattern:
to replicate [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *replicate* instead of the simpler *copy* in everyday situations (e.g., saying *replicate my homework* sounds too technical; *copy my homework* is more natural). Another common mistake is confusing *replicate* (verb) with *replica* (noun), for example saying *I bought a replicate of the bag* instead of *I bought a replica of the bag*.
Synonyms
duplicate (Slightly more formal; strongly emphasizes exactness of the copy.)
|
copy (More general and common; can be less exact or more casual.)
|
reproduce (Often used for images, sounds, or technical copying; slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
originate (Focuses on creating something new rather than copying it.)
Collocations
replicate the results
|replicate the experiment
|replicate a design
|replicate a process
|replicate a model
Themes
science
|technology
|business
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company is trying to replicate the success of its first product in the Asian market.
- Researchers were unable to replicate the original findings in a larger study.
- She replicated the painting so perfectly that it was hard to tell which one was the original.
- We need to replicate this process in all our factories to keep quality the same.
- The software allows you to replicate the database on a backup server.
Learner examples
- The chef tried to replicate the dish at home.
- Another team will replicate the experiment in their own lab.
- He replicated the file on a second hard drive.
- They want to replicate this business model in other cities.
- I cannot replicate the problem on my computer.
Verb
technical
C1
action
2
biology: to reproduce itself
for cells, viruses, or DNA to make more copies of themselves
Usage pattern:
[cells/viruses/DNA] replicate
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this biological meaning with the general meaning of *copy*. In everyday speech, we do not say *people replicate* to mean *people have children*; we say *people reproduce* or *have children*. *Replicate* in this sense is mainly used for cells, viruses, and DNA in scientific or medical contexts.
Synonyms
reproduce (General biological term; slightly broader, can also refer to whole organisms having offspring.)
Antonyms
die (Opposite outcome in a biological context: the organism or cell stops living instead of making more copies.)
Collocations
cells replicate
|viruses replicate
|replicate quickly
|ability to replicate
|replicate inside the host
Themes
science
|biology
|health
Examples
- The virus can replicate rapidly inside human lung cells.
- Cancer cells replicate in an uncontrolled way and form tumors.
- Once inside the host, the bacteria begin to replicate and spread through the body.
- The genetic material replicates before the cell divides.
- This drug stops the parasite from replicating in the bloodstream.
Learner examples
- The virus replicates very fast in warm temperatures.
- In this stage, the cell replicates before it splits.
- Some bacteria replicate every twenty minutes.
- The medicine slows down how quickly the cancer cells replicate.
- When the DNA replicates, it makes an exact copy.
Verb
technical
C1
action
3
repeat a study or experiment
to do the same study or test again to see if you get the same results
Usage pattern:
to replicate [a study/experiment/results]
Common mistake:
Learners may treat this as just *repeat* without understanding the reason. In research English, *replicate a study* is not just doing it again for practice; it specifically means doing it again to check if the results are reliable. Also, do not say *replicate again* (double marking); just *replicate the study* is enough.
Synonyms
reproduce (Common in research writing: *reproduce the results*; focuses on achieving the same outcomes.)
Antonyms
invalidate (If you cannot replicate results, you may invalidate the original study.)
Collocations
replicate a study
|replicate an experiment
|replicate the results
|replicate the findings
|independently replicate
Themes
science
|research
|education
Examples
- Several teams tried to replicate the study but failed to find the same effect.
- The results need to be replicated in a larger sample before we can trust them.
- Other laboratories have successfully replicated her experiment using different equipment.
- If independent researchers cannot replicate the findings, the theory will be questioned.
- We plan to replicate the trial in three different hospitals.
Learner examples
- Another group will replicate the study next year.
- Scientists must replicate the results before they accept this idea.
- The lab tried to replicate the experiment but got different numbers.
- Many studies are hard to replicate exactly.
- He wants to replicate the test with more students.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
one of several identical experimental units
one of several copies of the same test or sample in an experiment
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] replicate
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *replicate* (noun, technical) with *replica* (noun, normal) meaning *copy or imitation*, as in *a replica of the Statue of Liberty*. In scientific writing, *replicate* is used for repeated samples or tests, while *replica* would sound wrong.
Synonyms
repeat (Less technical; in everyday language you might say *three repeats of the test* instead of *three replicates*.)
Antonyms
single measurement (Refers to only one test or sample, with no replicates.)
Collocations
biological replicate
|technical replicate
|independent replicates
|multiple replicates
|three replicates per sample
Themes
science
|research
|statistics
|education
Examples
- Each treatment group included three biological replicates.
- We ran four technical replicates for every sample to reduce measurement error.
- Outliers were removed before calculating the mean across replicates.
- Independent replicates were performed on different days and with different batches of reagents.
- The experiment failed in one replicate, so it was repeated.
Learner examples
- The scientist used three replicates for each plant.
- We did four replicates of the same test.
- All replicates showed the same pattern.
- If one replicate fails, we run it again.
- The average of the replicates is more reliable.
Grammar
Dictionary form
replicate
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛplɪkˌeɪt/
US/ɹˈɛplɪkˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
rep - lic - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (rep)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: replicate
- 3rd Person Singular: replicates
- Present Participle: replicating
- Past: replicated
Word family
Forms
replicates
verb
replicating
verb
replicated
verb
Core family
replication
noun B2
replica
noun B2
Related words
replicable
adjective C1
Negative and opposite forms
unreplicable
adjective
Advanced or less common
replicative
adjective
replicator
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.