code

code¹ W2S2 [kəud US koud] n

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1¦(laws/behaviour)¦

2¦(secret message)¦

3¦(symbols giving information)¦

4¦(telephones)¦

5¦(computers)¦

6¦(sounds/signals)¦

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[Date: 1500-1600; : French; Origin: Latin codex; CODEX]

1.) ¦(LAWS/BEHAVIOUR)¦

a set of rules, laws, or principles that tell people how to behave

▪ The Torah is the basis for all the Jewish laws and their moral code .

▪ Each state in the US has a different criminal and civil code.

▪ The judge ruled that there had been no breach of the code .

▪ There were plans to introduce a dress code (=rules about what to wear) for civil servants.

code of conduct/behaviour/ethics

▪ the strict code of conduct that is so much a part of karate

code of practice

(=a set of rules that people in a particular business or profession agree to obey)

▪ The Textile Services Association has drawn up a code of practice endorsed by the Office of Fair Trading.

→↑Highway Code, ↑penal code

2.) ¦(SECRET MESSAGE)¦ [U and C]

a system of words, letters, or symbols that you use instead of ordinary writing, so that the information can only be understood by someone else who knows the system

in code

▪ All reports must be sent in code.

break/crack a code

(=manage to understand a code)

▪ They didn't realise that we'd broken their secret code.

3.) ¦(SYMBOLS GIVING INFORMATION)¦

a set of numbers, letters, or symbols that shows what something is or gives information about it

▪ Goods that you order must have a product code.

▪ Every item found on the archaeological dig is given a code number .

→↑bar code, ↑genetic code, ↑postcode, ↑zip code

4.) ¦(TELEPHONES)¦ also dialling code

, STD code

BrE

the group of numbers that comes before a telephone number when you are calling from a different area

American Equivalent: area code

▪ What's the code for Aberdeen?

5.) ¦(COMPUTERS)¦ [U and C]

a set of instructions that tell a computer what to do

→↑machine code, ↑source code

6.) ¦(SOUNDS/SIGNALS)¦

a system of sounds or signals that represent words or letters when they are sent by machine

→↑Morse code

code ²

code² v [T usually passive]

1.) to put a set of numbers, letters, or symbols on something to show what it is or give information about it

▪ Each path is coded to show the level of difficulty.

2.) to put a message into code so that it is secret