verb
to copy (from someone), to write off (financially) / to transcribe
B1
Abschreiben: 'to copy (from someone)' or 'to write off (financially)'; also 'to transcribe'. It's a separable, strong (irregular) verb with stem changes (ich schrieb, Perfekt: hat abgeschrieben) and uses haben. Transitive: abschreiben + Akk (die Antworten abschreiben). Imperative: 'schreib ab' commonly.
Examples
Die Firma schrieb den alten Computer als Kostenpunkt ab.
The company wrote the old computer off as an expense.
Er schrieb die Antwort ab.
He copied the answer.
Ich schreibe die Hausaufgaben ab.
I'm copying the homework.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone copying homework off another student's page and pressing 'ab' (off) to indicate taking from it.
Think 'off + scrib(e)' — 'schreiben' is write, 'ab' like off: write off / copy off.
Notes
The verb is separable in many uses (er schreibt den Text ab). It is irregular/strong: Präteritum 'schrieb ab', Partizip II 'abgeschrieben'. It can mean copying (e.g., from notes) or writing something off in accounting contexts.