décoder

Senses

1. 1.

   to decode

   to convert coded or encrypted information into a readable or understandable form

2. 2.

   to interpret

   to work out the meaning of something non-obvious or complex

Examples

• "Il faut décoder ce message secret pour comprendre les instructions."

  You need to decode this secret message to understand the instructions.

• "Les chercheurs ont réussi à décoder le génome humain."

  Researchers managed to decode the human genome.

• "C'est difficile de décoder ses intentions; il ne dit jamais ce qu'il pense vraiment."

  It's hard to interpret his intentions; he never says what he really thinks.

Usage

Common in technical and scientific contexts (computing, genetics, cryptography) but also used figuratively to mean "figure out" or "work out the meaning of" something complex or ambiguous. Regular -er verb conjugation.