calcar

To trace — literally, to copy a drawing or design by tracing over it (with tracing paper or carbon paper); figuratively, and very commonly, to copy or imitate something so closely it's indistinguishable from the original, often with a critical edge implying lack of originality.

• Calcó el mapa con papel cebolla. — She traced the map with tracing paper.
• Su discurso calcó casi palabra por palabra el de su rival. — His speech copied his rival's almost word for word.
• Este diseño está calcado del original. — This design is a carbon copy of the original.

The figurative sense of calcar carries a mild accusation of unoriginality or plagiarism-like copying — using it for ordinary "similar to" comparisons (parecerse a) would overstate the closeness and imply deliberate imitation.

Often confused with copiar.