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Glite Dictionary
Highway Code

Highway Code

4.6
An official set of rules for using public roads in the United Kingdom
  • noun
  • /ˈhaɪweɪ kəʊd/
  • UK
translation icon : Código de Circulación
  • Every learner driver must study the Highway Code to understand road safety rules.

Examples

  • If I get caught in flagrante whilst violating the Highway Code, my wife will find out, I'll get three points, my insurance could go up by 30 per cent.

    Full Love (2010)

  • The Highway Code provides essential information for safe driving on UK roads.

  • To avoid accidents, it is crucial to follow the guidelines outlined in the Highway Code.

Surface Forms

Highway Code singular
Highway Codes plural

Morphology

highway + code

The meaning 'official set of rules for roads' is directly and compositionaly derivable from 'highway' (a road for vehicle travel) plus 'code' (a set of rules). This noun‑noun compound follows a clear, cross‑linguistic pattern (rules for X), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name Highway Code comes from two simple words: highway meaning 'main public road' and code meaning 'a set of rules'. Imagine a book of rules for life on the road. That's why Highway Code means the official 'rules' for using 'roads' today.