[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/decode/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / decode

# decode

verb (decode, decodes, decoded, decoding)

«decode» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To decode a secret message or code is to change it back into normal words so you can understand it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#m1)
2. In reading, to decode a word is to work it out by turning letters into their sounds and blending them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#m2)
3. To decode something is to understand a hidden meaning, like a strange look or difficult instructions. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#m3)
4. In computing, to decode is to change data back into sound, pictures or text. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#m4)

### In the lessons

In phonics lessons «decoding» is sounding out words: c-a-t → cat. In maths and coding puzzles, you decode messages with a key (A=1, B=2). In history, the code-breakers of Bletchley Park decoded enemy messages. In everyday talk, you decode a teacher's hint.

### Examples

- Use the key to decode the secret message. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x1)
- Young readers decode words by sounding them out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x2)
- Alan Turing's team helped decode enemy messages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x3)
- If A = 1 and B = 2, decode 3-1-20. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x4)
- I could not decode my brother's messy handwriting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x5)
- The TV decodes the signal into pictures. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x6)
- Can you decode what Mum's look meant? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: decoded. Opposite: encode. «De-» means «undo». In the puzzle above, 3-1-20 decodes to CAT.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «decode» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decode/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«decode» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decode.html) on Mova free.