what is a copy-edit?

The goal of a copy-edit is to address flaws on a very technical level - to make sure the writing that appears on the page is in accordance with industry standards. It's like an incredibly high-end proofread.

Read on for more details.
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A copy-edit

• Corrects spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax
• Ensures consistency in spelling, hyphenation, numerals, fonts, and capitalization
• Flags ambiguous or factually incorrect statements (especially important for non-fiction)
• Tracks macro concerns like internal consistency.
  Internal consistency means your plot, setting, and character traits don’t have discrepancies. For example, if on page 41, you write, "Marion wore her blond hair in a bun", and then on page 67 you write, "Marion brushed her long black hair", it’s a copy-editor’s job to point that out.

So, to make a sweeping and totally reductive generalisation, the job of a general editor is to help you tell a better story, and the job of a copy-editor is to make sure the grammar on every page is correct.
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