code

noun

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\ ˈkōd

plural codes

Definition of code

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a systematic statement of a body of law especially : one given statutory force

2 : a system of principles or rules moral code

3a : a system of signals or symbols for communication

b : a system of symbols (such as letters or numbers) used to represent assigned and often secret meanings

c : coded language : a word or phrase chosen in place of another word or phrase in order to communicate an attitude or meaning without stating it explicitly The strategy also appealed to blue-collar workers in the Northeast and Northwest who were opposed to "forced bussing." This was expressed in code as favoring "law and order" and opposing "crime in the streets."— Elizabeth Drew —usually used with forI hear the word "development" a lot in public speech; politicians and activists use it as code for a lot of things—jobs, health care, a change in leadership.— Sallie TisdaleThis quarter-century of Republican momentum was reversed finally by Bill Clinton, who called himself a "New Democrat," code for "not a liberal."— Joshua Muravchik

4 : genetic code

5 : instructions for a computer (as within a piece of software) writing code for a new app

code

verb

coded; coding

Definition of code (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to put in or into the form or symbols of a code

intransitive verb

1 : to specify the genetic code a gene that codes for a protein

2 : to create or edit computer code She got a job coding for Google.

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Examples of code in a Sentence

Noun Everyone in the organization has to follow its code of ethics. The army has a strict code of conduct. The enemy was unable to break the army's secret code. The message was sent in code. Every item in the store has a product code. Enter your security code to access the computer. Each employee is given a code number. He was hired to write programming code. Verb The general sent a coded message. Each product has been coded.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun How to book: On Leap Day (Feb. 29) go to greatwolf.com, select the Arizona property and enter the code LEAPYEAR. — Melissa Yeager, azcentral, "Great Wolf Lodge Arizona is having a Leap Day sale. Here's how to snag a $29 rate," 14 Feb. 2020 Whitaker emailed the codes on the back of the cards as she was asked and waited for a confirmation message from eBay that never came. — Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "A hotel worker thought she was buying a $1,400 vehicle. Instead, she was taken for a ride," 14 Feb. 2020 Using different codes gets you different discounts. — NBC News, "Best Presidents Day mattress sales, according to Consumer Reports," 13 Feb. 2020 Until recently, Airbnb was the rare Silicon Valley unicorn that had somehow cracked the code—somehow figured out a way to make money! — Polina Marinova, Fortune, "The latest company to show big losses is — surprise — Airbnb," 13 Feb. 2020 The company, Crypto AG, got its first break with a contract to build code-making machines for U.S. troops during World War II. — Krista Stevens, Longreads, "How the US Spied on Allies and Adversaries Alike," 12 Feb. 2020 Crypto AG, a Swiss cryptographic communications gear company that got its big break building code-making gear for the US Army in World War II, has been a provider of encryption systems for more than 120 countries. — Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, "For decades, US and Germany owned Swiss crypto company used by 120 countries," 11 Feb. 2020 The two organizations don’t share code or resources, and CZI doesn’t much use the social network, other than for communications purposes. — Rebecca Robbins, STAT, "Priscilla Chan charts an ambitious, unglamorous course to fight disease. (Her husband is involved, too.)," 11 Feb. 2020 Fans can access the Cruel World Fest presale code via the website, giving them early access to tickets. — Taylor Mims, Billboard, "Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blondie & More to Perform at Debut Cruel World Festival in Southern California," 11 Feb. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Color code your life with our genius new Seal holder: permanent-looking marker pens whose incredible disappearing act wowed in our Media & Tech Lab’s tests. — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, "GH Seal Spotlight: Pilot Pen Frixion Colors Erasable Marker Pens," 13 Dec. 2019 The Freunds were given 15 days to bring the property up to code or demolish the house themselves. — Clifford Ward, chicagotribune.com, "Crystal Lake officials seek to have dilapidated, unoccupied family home of slain 5-year-old ‘AJ’ Freund torn down," 29 July 2019 Younger inmates at San Quentin State Prison can learn how to code. — Amy Chozick, New York Times, "The Rikers Coffee Academy," 27 Dec. 2019 Chemical manufacturing jobs are asking for experience with biotechnology, quality assurance and control, and chemistry, while the computer industry wants workers who can code using Python and Linux. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, "Want a factory job? You may need a college degree," 10 Dec. 2019 Amazon has also teamed up with Georgia Tech and the university’s EarSketch, a platform students learn to code through music. — Essence, "Ciara Surprises STEM Students At Atlanta High School," 17 Dec. 2019 And right now, online learning platform MasterClass is giving you one way to learn how to code with a sizable discount on its The Complete Learn to Code Master Class Bonus Bundle. — NBC News, "This MasterClass sale on a massive coding course is a must-see," 3 Oct. 2019 Those most likely to be sugary, Bertozzi and her colleagues found, are small RNAs known as Y RNAs, which don’t code for proteins, but appear to play a part in DNA replication. — Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, "Sugar-coated RNAs could ‘alter the face of biochemistry as we know it’—if they’re real," 2 Oct. 2019 The supermodel and face of Carolina Herrera's Good Girl Fragrances is here to talk about her new partnership with the fragrance house and Kode With Klossy, which is her non-profit organization that teaches young women how to code. — Maya Allen, Marie Claire, "6 Beauty Lessons I Learned from Karlie Kloss," 16 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'code.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

17 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/code. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for code

code

noun

English Language Learners Definition of code

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a set of laws or regulations

: a set of ideas or rules about how to behave

: a set of letters, numbers, symbols, etc., that is used to secretly send messages to someone

code

verb

English Language Learners Definition of code (Entry 2 of 2)

: to put (a message) into the form of a code so that it can be kept secret

: to mark (something) with a code so that it can be identified

: to change (information) into a set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a computer

See the full definition for code in the English Language Learners Dictionary

code

noun

\ ˈkōd

Kids Definition of code

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a system of rules or principles a code of conduct

2 : a system of signals or letters and symbols with special meanings used for sending messages

3 : a collection of laws criminal code

4 : genetic code

5 : a set of instructions for a computer

code

verb

coded; coding

Kids Definition of code (Entry 2 of 2)

: to put in the form of a code

code

noun

\ ˈkōd

Medical Definition of code

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : genetic code

2 : code blue

code

verb

coded; coding

Medical Definition of code (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to specify the genetic code for an amino acid coded by a nucleotide sequence

intransitive verb

1 : to specify the genetic code the DNA sequence of the gene that codes for that protein— Gina B. Kolata

2 : to experience cardiac arrest or respiratory failure They were taking her up to the operating room and she coded in the hallway. The resuscitation effort was heroic.— Perri Klass, Discover, November 1986

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code

noun

Legal Definition of code

1 : a systematic compilation or revision of law or legal principles that is arranged especially by subject: as

a : one that contains the law of a specific jurisdiction or topic promulgated by legislative authority U.S. Code Code of Massachusetts Regulations building code — compare case law, digest, statute

b : one that serves as a model for legislation but is not itself a law Model Penal Code

2 : a set of rules or regulations that is promulgated by a body (as a professional organization) and that regulates its industrial or professional practices ABA Code of Professional Responsibility

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