As printed by quiet copiers? (6)
I believe the answer is:
papers
'as printed by quiet copiers?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'by quiet copiers?' is the wordplay.
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'quiet' becomes 'p' (music symbol for 'piano', ie soft or quiet).
'copiers?' becomes 'apers' (ape can mean to mimic or copy).
'p' next to 'apers' is 'PAPERS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for papers that I've seen before include "Identifying documents" , "Documents; the press" , "Print media" , "tabloids, maybe" , "Documentation" .)