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Definition of code

code

/koʊd/
code
Plural:codes
•
Adjective:codable
•
Past Simple:coded
•
Past Participle:coded
•
Present Participle:coding
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code Lexical Profile

code Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A system of words, letters, figures, or other symbols substituted for other words or letters, especially for the purposes of secrecy or brevity.

Example

"The intelligence agency spent weeks trying to decipher the encrypted code."

2

Program instructions written in a particular programming language that can be executed by a computer.

Example

"The software engineer reviewed thousands of lines of code to locate the bug."

3

A systematic collection of laws, regulations, or rules of conduct.

Example

"All employees are expected to adhere strictly to the company's professional code of ethics."

4

A sequence of numbers or letters allocated to a specific geographic area, product, or account for identification or routing purposes.

Example

"Please enter your postal code and area code on the registration form."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To write instructions for a computer program or application using a programming language.

Example

"She learned how to code in Python during her first semester of college."

2

To convert a message or text into a secret cipher or systematic symbols.

Example

"The telegraph operator had to code the confidential dispatch before transmitting it."

3

To assign an identifying label, symbol, or classification to items or data for analysis.

Example

"The researchers will code the interview transcripts by recurring themes."

4

To specify the genetic synthesis of a particular protein or trait (of a gene or DNA sequence).

Example

"This specific segment of DNA is known to code for an essential digestive enzyme."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for code

• Nearby Words

coda
codariocalyx
coddle
code
codebase
codebook
codebreaker

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French code ('system of laws'), from Latin codex ('tree trunk, wooden tablet for writing, book of laws').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Code. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/code
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