1. Understand or realize, usually after some time or initial difficulty
   "She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally copped on";
   - catch on [informal], get wise [informal], get onto, tumble [informal], latch on [informal], cotton on [informal], twig [Brit, informal], get it [informal]

Derived forms: copping on, cops on, copped on

Type of: apprehend, compass, comprehend, dig [informal], get the picture [informal], grasp, grok [N. Amer, informal], savvy