Code
In communications and information processing, code is a system of rules to convert information—such as a letter, word, sound, image, or gesture—into another form or representation, sometimes shortened or secret, for communication through a communication channel or storage in a storage medium. An early example is the invention of language, which enabled a person, through speech, to communicate what they saw, heard, felt, or thought to others. But speech limits the range of communication to the distance a voice can carry, and limits the audience to those present when the speech is uttered. The invention of writing, which converted spoken language into visual symbols, extended the range of communication across space and time.
The process of encoding converts information from a source into symbols for communication or storage. Decoding is the reverse process, converting code symbols back into a form that the recipient understands, such as English or Spanish.
One reason for coding is to enable communication in places where ordinary plain language, spoken or written, is difficult or impossible. For example, semaphore, where the configuration of flags held by a signaler or the arms of a semaphore tower encodes parts of the message, typically individual letters and numbers. Another person standing a great distance away can interpret the flags and reproduce the words sent.
Code (noun)
A short symbol, often with little relation to the item it represents.
“This flavour of soup has been assigned the code WRT-9.”
Code (noun)
A body of law, sanctioned by legislation, in which the rules of law to be specifically applied by the courts are set forth in systematic form; a compilation of laws by public authority; a digest.
Code (noun)
Any system of principles, rules or regulations relating to one subject.
“The medical code is a system of rules for the regulation of the professional conduct of physicians.”
“The naval code is a system of rules for making communications at sea by means of signals.”
Code (noun)
A set of rules for converting information into another form or representation.
Code (noun)
A message represented by rules intended to conceal its meaning.
Code (noun)
A cryptographic system using a words or phrases into codewords.
Code (noun)
Instructions for a computer, written in a programming language; the input of a translator, an interpreter or a browser, namely: source code, machine code, bytecode.
“Object-oriented C++ code is easier to understand for a human than C code.”
“I wrote some code to reformat text documents.”
“This HTML code may be placed on your web page.”
Code (noun)
A program.
Code (noun)
A particular lect or language variety.
Code (verb)
To write software programs.
“I learned to code on an early home computer in the 1980s.”
Code (verb)
To categorise by assigning identifiers from a schedule, for example CPT coding for medical insurance purposes.
Code (verb)
To encode.
“We should code the messages we send out on Usenet.”
Code (verb)
To encode a protein.
Code (verb)
To call a hospital emergency code.
“coding in the CT scanner”
Code (verb)
Of a patient, to suffer a sudden medical emergency a code blue such as cardiac arrest.
Standard (adjective)
Falling within an accepted range of size, amount, power, quality, etc.
Standard (adjective)
Growing alone as a free-standing plant; not trained on a post etc.
Standard (adjective)
Having recognized excellence or authority.
“standard works in history; standard authors”
Standard (adjective)
Of a usable or serviceable grade or quality.
Standard (adjective)
Having a manual transmission.
Standard (adjective)
As normally supplied (not optional).
Standard (adjective)
Conforming to the standard variety.
Standard (noun)
A principle or example or measure used for comparison.
Standard (noun)
A level of quality or attainment.
Standard (noun)
Something used as a measure for comparative evaluations; a model.
Standard (noun)
A musical work of established popularity.
Standard (noun)
A rule or set of rules or requirements which are widely agreed upon or imposed by government.
Standard (noun)
The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established for coinage.
Standard (noun)
A bottle of wine containing 0.750 liters of fluid.
Standard (noun)
A vertical pole with something at its apex.
Standard (noun)
Grade level in primary education.
“I am in fifth standard.”
Standard (noun)
An object lamp standard.
Standard (noun)
The flag or ensign carried by a military unit.
Standard (noun)
One of the upright members that supports the horizontal axis of a transit or theodolite.
Standard (noun)
Any upright support, such as one of the poles of a scaffold.
Standard (noun)
A tree of natural size supported by its own stem, and not dwarfed by grafting on the stock of a smaller species nor trained upon a wall or trellis.
Standard (noun)
A manual transmission vehicle.
Standard (noun)
The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla.
Standard (noun)
An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally.
Standard (noun)
A large drinking cup.
Standard (noun)
standard idiom, a prestigious or standardized language variety; standard language
Standard (interjection)
An expression of agreement
Code (noun)
a system of words, letters, figures, or symbols used to represent others, especially for the purposes of secrecy
“the Americans cracked their diplomatic code”
“messages written in code”
Code (noun)
a phrase or concept used to represent another in an indirect way
“‘We’ll catch up soon’ is usually a code for ‘I’m not that into you’”
Code (noun)
a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification
“each box had a label with the code SC 90”
Code (noun)
short for dialling code
“I was given the number, but not the code for Guildford”
Code (noun)
program instructions
“assembly code”
Code (noun)
a systematic collection of laws or statutes
“a revision of the penal code”
Code (noun)
a set of conventions or moral principles governing behaviour in a particular sphere
“a stern code of honour”
“a strict dress code”
Code (verb)
convert (the words of a message) into a code so as to convey a secret meaning
“only Mitch knew how to read the message—even the name was coded”
Code (verb)
express the meaning of (a statement) in an indirect way
“they code their language when talking to the general public”
Code (verb)
assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification or identification
“she coded the samples and sent them for dissection”
Code (verb)
write code for (a computer program)
“most developers code C + + like C”
“I no longer actively code in PHP”
Code (verb)
be the genetic code for (an amino acid or protein)
“genes that code for human growth hormone”
Code (verb)
be the genetic determiner of (a characteristic)
“one pair of homologous chromosomes codes for eye colour”
Standard (noun)
a level of quality or attainment
“the government’s ambition to raise standards in schools”
“their restaurant offers a high standard of service”
Standard (noun)
a required or agreed level of quality or attainment
“half of the beaches fail to comply with European standards”
“their tap water was not up to standard”
Standard (noun)
(in elementary schools) a grade of proficiency tested by examination or the form or class preparing pupils for such a grade
“she was still in boarding school and had twice repeated the same standard”
Standard (noun)
something used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations
“the wages are low by today’s standards”
“the system had become an industry standard”
Standard (noun)
principles of conduct informed by notions of honour and decency
“a decline in moral standards”
Standard (noun)
a form of language that is widely accepted as the usual form
“the idea of the standard is projected backwards on to states of language”
Standard (noun)
the prescribed weight of fine metal in gold or silver coins
“the sterling standard for silver”
Standard (noun)
a system by which the value of a currency is defined in terms of gold or silver or both.
Standard (noun)
a measure for timber, equivalent to 165 cu. ft (4.67 cubic metres).
Standard (noun)
(especially with reference to jazz or blues) a tune or song of established popularity.
Standard (noun)
a military or ceremonial flag carried on a pole or hoisted on a rope.
Standard (noun)
used in names of newspapers
“a report in the Evening Standard”
Standard (noun)
a tree or shrub that grows on an erect stem of full height.
Standard (noun)
a shrub grafted on an erect stem and trained in tree form
“a standard rose”
Standard (noun)
the large, frequently erect uppermost petal of a papilionaceous flower.
Standard (noun)
one of the inner petals of an iris flower, frequently erect.
Standard (noun)
an upright water or gas pipe.
Standard (adjective)
used or accepted as normal or average
“it is standard practice in museums to register objects as they are acquired”
“the standard rate of income tax”
Standard (adjective)
(of a size, measure, design, etc.) regularly used or produced; not special or exceptional
“all these doors come in a range of standard sizes”
Standard (adjective)
(of a work, repertoire, or writer) viewed as authoritative or of permanent value and so widely read or performed
“his essays on the interpretation of reality became a standard text”
Standard (adjective)
denoting or relating to the form of a language widely accepted as the usual correct form
“speakers of standard English”
Standard (adjective)
(of a tree or shrub) growing on an erect stem of full height
“standard trees are useful for situations where immediate height is needed”
Standard (adjective)
(of a shrub) grafted on an erect stem and trained in tree form
“standard roses”