Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Code \Code\ (k[=o]d), n. [F., fr. L. codex, caudex, the stock or
   stem of a tree, a board or tablet of wood smeared over with
   wax, on which the ancients originally wrote; hence, a book, a
   writing.]
   1. 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.

   Note: The collection of laws made by the order of Justinian
         is sometimes called, by way of eminence. ``The Code''
         --Wharton.

   2. Any system of rules or regulations relating to one
      subject; as, the medical code, a system of rules for the
      regulation of the professional conduct of physicians; the
      naval code, a system of rules for making communications at
      sea means of signals.

   {Code civil} or {Code Napoleon}, a code enacted in France in
      1803 and 1804, embodying the law of rights of persons and
      of property generally. --Abbot.

Source : WordNet®

code
     n 1: a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written
          ones) [syn: {codification}]
     2: a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring
        brevity or secrecy
     3: (computer science) the symbolic arrangement of data or
        instructions in a computer program or the set of such
        instructions [syn: {computer code}]

code
     v 1: attach a code to; "Code the pieces with numbers so that you
          can identify them later"
     2: convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the
        message for security reasons" [syn: {encode}, {encipher},
        {cipher}, {cypher}, {encrypt}, {inscribe}, {write in code}]
        [ant: {decode}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

code
     
         Instructions for a computer in some programming
        language, often {machine language}.  The word "code" is often
        used to distinguish instructions from {data} (e.g. "The code
        is marked 'read-only'") whereas "{software}" is used in
        contrast with "{hardware}" and may consist of more than just
        code.
     
        (2000-04-08)