CODE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does code mean? 

• CODE (noun)
  The noun CODE has 3 senses:

1. a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)

2. a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy

3. (computer science) the symbolic arrangement of data or instructions in a computer program or the set of such instructions

  Familiarity information: CODE used as a noun is uncommon.

• CODE (verb)
  The verb CODE has 2 senses:

1. attach a code to

2. convert ordinary language into code

  Familiarity information: CODE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CODE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

code; codification

Hypernyms ("code" is a kind of...):

black and white; written communication; written language (communication by means of written symbols (either printed or handwritten))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "code"):

Bushido (traditional code of the Japanese samurai which stressed courage and loyalty and self-discipline and simple living)

legal code (a code of laws adopted by a state or nation)

building code (set of standards established and enforced by local government for the structural safety of buildings)

dress code (a set of rules specifying the correct manner of dress while on the premises of the institution (or specifying what manner of dress is prohibited))

fire code (set of standards established and enforced by government for fire prevention and safety in case of fire as in fire escapes etc)

omerta (a code of silence practiced by the Mafia; a refusal to give evidence to the police about criminal activities)

health code; sanitary code (set of standards established and enforced by government for health requirements as in plumbing etc)

Highway Code (the code of rules governing the use of public roads)

Derivation:

codify (organize into a code or system, such as a body of law)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("code" is a kind of...):

coding system (a system of signals used to represent letters or numbers in transmitting messages)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "code"):

area code (a number usually of 3 digits assigned to a telephone area as in the United States and Canada)

bar code; Universal Product Code (code consisting of a series of vertical bars of variable width that are scanned by a laser; printed on consumer product packages to identify the item for a computer that provides the price and registers inventory information)

color code (system using colors to designate classifications)

cipher; cryptograph; cypher; secret code (a secret method of writing)

international Morse code; Morse; Morse code (a telegraph code in which letters and numbers are represented by strings of dots and dashes (short and long signals))

postal code; postcode; ZIP; ZIP code (a code of letters and digits added to a postal address to aid in the sorting of mail)

access; access code (a code (a series of characters or digits) that must be entered in some way (typed or dialed or spoken) to get the use of something (a telephone line or a computer or a local area network etc.))

Derivation:

code (convert ordinary language into code)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(computer science) the symbolic arrangement of data or instructions in a computer program or the set of such instructions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

code; computer code

Hypernyms ("code" is a kind of...):

coding system (a system of signals used to represent letters or numbers in transmitting messages)

Domain category:

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "code"):

machine code; machine language (a set of instructions coded so that the computer can use it directly without further translation)

command; instruction; program line; statement ((computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program)

computer software; package; software; software package; software program; software system ((computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory)

operation code; order code (the portion of a set of operation descriptions that specifies the operation to be performed; the set of operations in a computer)

object code (the machine-language output of a compiler that is ready for execution on a particular computer)

firmware; microcode ((computer science) coded instructions that are stored permanently in read-only memory)

ECC; error correction code ((telecommunication) a coding system that incorporates extra parity bits in order to detect errors)

binary code (code using a string of 8 binary digits to represent characters)

American Standard Code for Information Interchange; ASCII ((computer science) a code for information exchange between computers made by different companies; a string of 7 binary digits represents each character; used in most microcomputers)

address; computer address; reference ((computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored)

Derivation:

code (convert ordinary language into code)

• CODE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they code    ... he / she / it codes   
Past simple: coded   
Past participle: coded   
-ing form: coding   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Attach a code to

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Code the pieces with numbers so that you can identify them later

Hypernyms (to "code" is one way to...):

label; mark; tag (attach a tag or label to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Convert ordinary language into code

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

cipher; code; cypher; encipher; encrypt; inscribe; write in code

Context example:

We should encode the message for security reasons

Hypernyms (to "code" is one way to...):

encode (convert information into code)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

code (a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy)

code ((computer science) the symbolic arrangement of data or instructions in a computer program or the set of such instructions)

coder (a person who designs and writes and tests computer programs)

coding (act of writing in code or cipher)

 Context examples 

Code name for a synthetic defoliant developed for military use.

(Agent Orange, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the representation of the criteria for determining whether an adverse event (experience or reaction) is considered unanticipated.

(Adverse Event Unexpected Reason Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the intensity of the event.

(Adverse Event Severity Code, NCI Thesaurus)

The date (and time) on which the seriousness code was assigned to the adverse event.

(Adverse Event Seriousness Date, NCI Thesaurus)

The two-letter country codes specified by the ISO 3166-1 country code standard.

(Alpha-2 Country Code, NCI Thesaurus)

The three-letter country codes specified by the ISO 3166-1 country code standard.

(Alpha-3 Country Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying a group of animals presumably related by descent from common ancestors and visibly similar in most characters.

(Animal Breed Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the side of the body (or a paired organ) where the anatomic site is.

(Anatomic Site Laterality Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the anatomic site(s) or system.

(Anatomic Site Code, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying the degree or extent of the consequence suffered by the subject.

(Adverse Event Seriousness Code, NCI Thesaurus)