decode

verb

de·code | \ (ˌ)dē-ˈkōd

decoded; decoding; decodes

Definition of decode

transitive verb

1a : to convert (something, such as a coded message) into intelligible form

b : to recognize and interpret (an electronic signal)

2a : decipher sense 3a

b : to discover the underlying meaning of decode the play's imagery

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about decode

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Synonyms & Antonyms for decode

Synonyms

break, crack, decipher, decrypt

Antonyms

cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt

Did You Know?

To decode is to take out of code and put into understandable language. (Its opposite is encode, "to put into coded form".) But dreams may sometimes also be decoded; psychologists often try to decode the images of their patients' dreams so as to understand the emotions behind them. And readers must often decode what a novel or story or poem is telling them, which may require two or three readings. Decipher is often a synonym, though we now use it when talking about reading difficult handwriting.

Examples of decode in a Sentence

Readers can easily decode the novel's imagery. I'm trying to decode the expression on her face. The box decodes the digital signal for your CD player.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes, the problem is as simple as not being able to decode a handwritten number in older text. — Michael Walsh, courant.com, "West Hartford Teen Passionate About Hand-Drawn Maps," 7 Aug. 2019 Others might apply their own signal-decoding algorithms and do their own analyses of this massive thicket of numbers and find something interesting. — Seth Shostak, NBC News, "Search for space aliens comes up empty, but extraterrestrial life could still be out there," 26 June 2019 And scientists have recently learned how to decode it. — Jordan Wilkerson, Dallas News, "At 31,000 years old, two children's teeth and their ancient DNA unravel mystery of human migration," 9 July 2019 Kate offered these comments during her visit to Bletchley Park, a WWII-era code-breaking facility where the likes of Alan Turing—and Kate's own grandmother—worked to decode messages between the Axis powers. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Kate Middleton Says Prince Louis "Is Keeping Us on Our Toes"," 15 May 2019 Fournier started with two related proteins, TrpRS (tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase) and TyrRS (tyrosyl tRNA synthetase), which help decode RNA letters into the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine. — Quanta Magazine, "How Structure Arose in the Primordial Soup," 16 Apr. 2015 This is phonics, a way of learning to read in which children are taught to decode words. — The Economist, "How phonics took over English schools," 18 July 2019 In January 2018, University of Alberta computer scientists led by language processing expert Greg Kondrak claimed to have decoded the manuscript using artificial intelligence and concluded it was written in a form of Hebrew. — John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, "Voynich Manuscript: Did Bay Area researchers decipher mysterious medieval book?," 12 July 2019 This new phase is a forward-facing effort to decode the human brain and to translate that knowledge to treat brain disorders. — Kafui Dzirasa, WIRED, "A New Approach to Treat Mental Illness: Electrical Engineering," 28 June 2019

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

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More Definitions for decode

decode

verb

English Language Learners Definition of decode

: to change (secret messages, documents, etc.) from a set of letters, numbers, symbols, etc., you cannot understand into words you can understand

: to find or understand the true or hidden meaning of (something)

technical : to change signals for a radio, television, etc., to a form that can be heard or seen correctly

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

decode

verb

de·code | \ dē-ˈkōd

decoded; decoding

Kids Definition of decode

: to change a message in code into ordinary language

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decode

Definition of decode

Synonyms & Antonyms for decode

Did You Know?

Examples of decode in a Sentence

First Known Use of decode

English Language Learners Definition of decode

Kids Definition of decode

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