clone

¹clone

noun \ˈklōn\

Definition of CLONE

1

a : the aggregate of genetically identical cells or organisms asexually produced by a single progenitor cell or organism

b : an individual grown from a single somatic cell or cell nucleus and genetically identical to it

c : a group of replicas of all or part of a macromolecule and especially DNA <clones of identical recombinant DNA sequences>

2

: one that appears to be a copy of an original form : duplicate <a clone of a personal computer>

— clon·al \ˈklō-n^əl\ adjective

— clon·al·ly \-nə-lē\ adverb

Examples of CLONE

1. the clone of an adult female sheep
2. <the car is a clone under a different brand name—it's even manufactured in the same plant as its cousin>

Origin of CLONE

Greek klōn twig, slip; akin to Greek klan to break — more at clast

First Known Use: 1903

Related to CLONE

Synonyms

carbon, carbon copy, copy, dummy, dupe, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, imitation, mock, reduplication, replica, replication, reproduction

Antonyms

archetype, original, prototype

Related Words

counterfeit, fake, forgery, knockoff, phony (also phoney), rip-off, rubber stamp, sham; miniature, mock-up, simulation; reconstruction, re-creation; image, likeness, semblance, shadow; impression, imprint, print; approximation, reincarnation, version; extra, reserve, spare

Near Antonyms

antithesis, converse, opposite, reverse

Rhymes with CLONE

blown, bone, cone, crone, drone, flown, groan, grown, hone, known, loan, lone, moan, Mon, none, own, phone, pone, prone, Rhône, roan, Saône, scone, sone, stone, throne, tone, zone

²clone

verb

clonedclon·ing

Definition of CLONE

transitive verb

1

: to propagate a clone from

2

: to make a copy of

intransitive verb

: to produce a clone

— clon·er \ˈklō-nər\ noun

Examples of CLONE

1. Do you think scientists should clone humans?
2. a plant produced by cloning

First Known Use of CLONE

circa 1948

Related to CLONE

Synonyms

copy, copycat, duplicate, imitate, reduplicate, render, replicate, reproduce

Antonyms

originate

Related Words

counterfeit, fake, forge, knock off, rip off; mimic, simulate; reconstruct, re-create

Near Antonyms

create, imagine, initiate, invent

clone

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Population of genetically identical cells or organisms that originated from a single cell or organism by nonsexual methods. Cloning is fundamental to most living things, since the body cells of plants and animals are clones that come ultimately from a single fertilized egg. More narrowly, the term refers to an individual organism grown from a single body cell of its parent that is genetically identical to the parent. Cloning has been commonplace in horticulture since ancient times; many varieties of plants are cloned simply by obtaining cuttings of their leaves, stems, or roots and replanting them. The body cells of adult humans and other animals are routinely cultured as clones in the laboratory. Entire frogs and mice have been successfully cloned from embryonic cells. British researchers led by Ian Wilmut achieved the first success in cloning an adult mammal in 1996. Having already produced clones from sheep embryos, they were able to produce a lamb (Dolly) using DNA from an adult sheep. The practical applications of cloning are economically promising but philosophically unsettling.