a verb, such as be, seem, or taste, that is used merely to identify or link the subject with the complement of a sentence. Copulas may serve to link nouns (or pronouns), as in he became king, nouns (or pronouns) and adjectival complements, as in sugar tastes sweet, or nouns (or pronouns) and adverbial complements, as in John is in jail
2.
anything that serves as a link
3. logic
the often unexpressed link between the subject and predicate terms of a categorial proposition, as are in all men are mortal
Derived forms
copular (ˈcopular)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Latin: bond, connection, from co- together + apere to fasten
copula in American English
(ˈkɑpjulə; ˈkɑpjələ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcopulas
something that connects or links together
; specif.,
a. Grammar
linking verb
b. Logic
the connecting link between the subject and predicate of a proposition
Derived forms
copular (ˈcopular)
adjective
Word origin
L, a band, link (earlier *co-apula) < co-, together + apere, to join: see apt1
Examples of 'copula' in a sentence
copula
Who died, to make the whole thing even more complete, joined in a copula.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)
A compound word in which the elements are related to each other as if joined by a copula.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)