code meaning

Noun: code  kowd

1. A set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)
   - codification 
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
   - computer code

Verb: code  kowd

1. Attach a code to
   "Code the pieces with numbers so that you can identify them later" 
2. Convert ordinary language into code
   - encipher, cipher, cypher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code 
3. Create code, write a computer program
   "She writes code faster than anybody else"
   - write

Derived forms: coded, coding, codes

See also: coder, codify, coding

Type of: black and white, coding system, create by mental act, create mentally, encode, label, mark, tag, written communication, written language

Encyclopedia: Code

[Architecture]
1.

A legal instrument adopted within a political jurisdiction (such as a town, county, state, province, parish, etc.) that prescribes the minimum acceptable levels of the design, construction, installation, and performance of materials, components, devices, items of equipment, appliances used in a building, or building systems and/or subsystems.

2.

A published body of rules and regulations for building practices, materials, and installations, designed to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public, such as a building code, health code, etc. Codes established by municipal, state, or federal authorities usually have the power of law.

[Business]
AmE / noun

AREA CODE, AUTHORIZATION CODE, BAR CODE, BUILDING CODE, COLOUR-CODE, DIALLING CODE, DRESS CODE, HARD CODE, LABOUR CODE, MACHINE CODE, POSTCODE, SORT CODE, SOURCE CODE, TAKEOVER CODE, ZIP CODE

1 [C,U] (often used in compounds)

a system of words, letters, numbers or symbols that represent information about sth:

Tap your code number into the machine.

In the event of the machine not operating correctly, an error code will appear.

an access/error/a log-in/product/reference/security code

2 [C]

a set of standards that members of a particular profession, or people who do a particular activity, agree to follow or are recommended to follow:

The Department has issued an approved code of practice for the management of noise in the workplace.

They failed to observe the banks' voluntary code of conduct.

The Association's code of ethics requires lawyers to keep their clients' details confidential.

❖ to approve/draft/draw up/produce a code of practice, etc.

◆ to adhere to/break/comply with/follow/observe a code of practice, etc.

3 (IT ) [U]

a system of computer programming instructions:

to write code

4 [C] = DIALLING CODE

[Defence]

1. Any system of communication in which arbitrary groups of symbols represent units of plain text of varying length.
Codes may be used for brevity or for security.
2. A cryptosystem in which the cryptographic equivalents (usually called “code groups”), typically consisting of letters or digits (or both) in otherwise meaningless combinations, are substituted for plain text elements which are primarily words, phrases, or sentences.
See also cryptosystem.

[Electronics]
1. A set of symbols for communications (e.g., the Morse code of radiotelegraphy and wire telegraphy in which dots and dashes correspond to
letters, numbers, and marks of punctuation).
2. In a computer program, symbolically represented instructions.
3. ENCODE.

[Law]
n. A complete written formulation of a body of law, (e.g. the Code Napoleon in France). A code of English law does not exist, but a few specialized topics have been dealt with in this way by means of a codifying statute (e.g. the Sale of Goods Act 1893, re-enacted with modifications by the Sale of Goods Act 1979).

[Medicine]
vb cod·ed; cod·ing vt : to specify the genetic code for ‹an amino acid coded by a nucleotide sequence›
¦ vi : to specify the genetic code ‹the DNA sequence of the gene that codes for that protein —G. B. Kolata›
n : GENETIC CODE

[Computer]
1. <software> Instructions for a computer in some programming language, often machine language (machine code).

The word "code" is often used to distinguish instructions from data (e.g. "The code is marked 'read-only'") whereas the word "software" is used in contrast with "hardware" and may consist of more than just code.



2. <cryptography> Some method of encryption or the resulting encrypted message.

• code, codes | code | codes | codes code |:    [Law]CODE, CODES - ...
• code, justinian | code | justinian | justinian code |:    [Law]CODE, JUSTINI ...
• absolute code:    [Electronics]A com ...

Examples

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1. you must live up to the code of the school.
2. the dialing code for the london area is 01.
3. language is apparently governed by a code.
4. the new code baffled the enemy agents.
5. she was an individual with a code of her own.