encode

verb en·code \ in-ˈkōd , en- \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of encode

1 a : to convert (something, such as a body of information) from one system of communication into another; especially : to convert (a message) into code

b : to convey symbolically

the capacity of poetry to encode ideology
—J. D. Niles

2 : to specify the genetic code for

—

encoder

noun

See encode defined for English-language learners

See encode defined for kids

Examples of encode in a Sentence

Credit cards are encoded with cardholder information.
a technology that encodes images

Recent Examples of encode from the Web

Using a special laser technology, the nonprofit encoded the books’ data into small quartz discs, a concept known as 5D optical storage.

— loren grush, The Verge, "The Arch Foundation’s first step toward building a Lunar Library," 15 May 2018
In total, agents discovered 175 cards re-encoded with bank account information, as well as laptop data for 400 card numbers.

— hanna krueger, NOLA.com, "Brazilian man pleads guilty to card-skimming scheme out of Algiers hotel," 4 May 2018
Many of the 20,000 genes encoded in human DNA remain a mystery to scientists.

— soumya karlamangla, latimes.com, "Decoding your baby's DNA: It can be done. But should it be?," 22 Apr. 2018
And the molecular data didn’t include an assessment of whether the enzymes were encoded on genetic elements that bacteria can easily share among themselves.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "“Nightmare” superbugs continue to lurk in US, but control efforts working," 4 Apr. 2018
Scientists are looking to species like the American cockroach to learn about how traits that make them incredible adapters and stubborn survivalists are encoded in their DNA.

— grace donnelly, Fortune, "Why We Can Learn a Lot From the Cockroach Genome About How to Adapt to Any Environment," 27 Mar. 2018
No matter, because the seeds had been planted; Indian music’s aim to cry out to God and the cosmic erasure of boundaries encoded in its DNA had permanently stretched George’s mind for the rest of his life.

— morgan enos, Billboard, "HariSongs Label Debuts: 7 Great Moments When George Harrison Collided With Indian Music," 27 Apr. 2018
Vingcard's system encodes a unique cryptographic key into each keycard—and another into every hotel's master keys—that are all designed to be unguessable.

— andy greenberg, WIRED, "A One-Minute Attack Let Hackers Spoof Hotel Master Keys," 25 Apr. 2018
The charges could distinguish one black hole from another and encode infalling information, Strominger says.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Hawking’s final quest: saving quantum theory from black holes," 20 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of encode

circa 1919

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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ENCODE Defined for English Language Learners

encode

verb

Definition of encode for English Language Learners

: to put (a message) into the form of a code so that it can kept secret
: to put information in the form of a code on (something)
: to change (information) into a set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a computer

Medical Dictionary

encode

transitive verb en·code \ in-ˈkōd, en- \

medical Definition of encode

encoded; encoding

: to specify the genetic code for

each nucleotide triplet or codon on the mRNA chain encodes a specific amino acid
—J. E. Darnell, Jr.

Learn More about encode

See words that rhyme with encode Spanish Central: Translation of encode Nglish: Translation of encode for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of encode for Arabic speakers

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Definition of encode

encoder

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encode

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encode

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