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Glite Dictionary
machine code

machine code

1 4.9
A set of instructions in numbers that a computer's processor can run directly
  • noun
  • /məˈʃin koʊd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : código máquina
  • On the other hand, Go started as a system programming language that compiles to native machine code.

So we learned that the assembler brings us from assembly code to machine code.

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Examples

  • Google developed the V8 JavaScript engine that converts JavaScript to native machine code.

    Blog text (14)

  • In the 1960s, standardization of machine code was developed by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA).

    Academic text (2011)

  • Go has the potential to be faster because it compiles down to native machine code, like C and C++ do.

    Blog text (6)

  • For this experiment, they used Numba, a Python library that can compile array operations to efficient machine code.

    Academic text (2018)

  • Cam-Post will work behind CA-TIA in both facilities to transform CAD/CAM cutter location files into the machine code required by NC machines.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The JIT improves performance by translating sets of bytecodes rather than individual ones, using a variety of optimization techniques to generate efficient machine code, and caching the translated bytecode for reuse.

    Academic text (1999)

  • All programming languages need to be eventually translated into machine code for a computer to use the instructions they contain.

  • Google developed the V8 JavaScript engine that converts JavaScript to native machine code.

  • In the 1960s, standardization of machine code was developed by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA).

Synonyms

binary code
vsmachine code
  • Specialized
3 3.5

A system that uses 0s and 1s to show text and instructions in computers

is specifically the executable instruction set a CPU runs directly
machine language
vsmachine code
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A programming language made of 0s and 1s that a computer runs directly

is the more technical phrase describing the instruction set itself
object code
vsmachine code
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Machine instructions made from a program so a computer can run it

is the general instruction set not necessarily compiler produced

Antonyms

high-level language
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A type of computer language that is easy for people to read and write

How Low-Level

microcode
  • Specialized
7.7
machine code
  • Specialized
1 4.9
bytecode
  • Specialized
1 7.3
preprocessing
  • Specialized
6.5
source code
  • Specialized
21 4.1

Surface Forms

machine code singular
machine codes plural

Morphology

machine + code

The meaning is directly compositional: 'machine' (a device) + 'code' (instructions) yields 'code for machines' — instructions intended to be executed by a machine. This is a straightforward noun–noun subtype (code meant for machines) and is cross‑linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the basic meaning.

Etymology

Machine code comes from the idea of a 'code' the machine itself can read: simple instructions written as 0s and 1s so the computer's main chip can run them. That's why it means 'instructions the computer runs directly'.