1. A verb that links the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, expressing a state of being rather than an action. The main copular verb is 'to be', but others include 'seem', 'appear', 'become', 'taste', 'smell', 'feel', 'look', and 'sound'.
She is a teacher. The soup tastes delicious. He seems happy.
Ela é professora. A sopa tem gosto delicioso. Ele parece feliz.
2. In grammar, a linking verb that does not express action but rather describes or identifies the subject, typically followed by a predicate nominative or predicate adjective.
The sky appears gray. They became doctors.
O céu parece cinzento. Eles se tornaram médicos.
This is primarily a linguistic/grammatical term used in educational contexts in both Brazil and the USA. Grammar instruction emphasizes copular verbs as fundamental to understanding sentence structure. In Brazil, 'verbo de ligação' is the standard terminology taught in schools. The distinction between action verbs and linking verbs is a key component of English and Portuguese language instruction.