codex

/ˈkəʊdeks/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkəʊdeks/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkō-ˌdeks/ (ame, mw)

codex — noun

  • codexsingular
  • codicesplural

1. a very old handwritten book with pages bound together, especially one made befor

1.名詞C2
釋義

a very old handwritten book with pages bound together, especially one made before printing became common

例句

Museum staff placed the Mayan codex in a dark glass case.

collocation: Mayan codex; museum display

Professor Chidi compared the damaged codex with a later printed copy.

contrast: codex vs printed copy

同義詞
  • manuscript

    broader term for any handwritten text; a codex is one bound form of manuscript

  • scroll

    refers to a rolled document rather than pages bound like a book

  • tome

    emphasizes size and seriousness, not handwriting or historical format

文法句型

a codex from [place/period]

a codex of [religious or historical text]

用法筆記

Usually refers to a handwritten book from the ancient or medieval world, not an ordinary old printed book. It emphasizes the book form with pages rather than the text alone.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a codex at the airport bookstore.
✅I bought a book at the airport bookstore.
💡codex usually refers to an ancient handwritten book, not an ordinary modern one.

2. an official reference book that lists approved medicines, chemicals, or standard

2.名詞C2
釋義

an official reference book that lists approved medicines, chemicals, or standard drug formulas

例句

Hospital pharmacists checked the codex before mixing the new medicine.

consult the codex before preparing medicine

The inspector updated the national codex after three chemicals were banned.

official title: national codex

同義詞
  • pharmacopoeia

    near-technical equivalent that specifically names an official drug standard book

  • formulary

    usually focuses on approved medicines within a hospital or health system

  • drug guide

    broader and more practical; not necessarily an official legal standard

文法句型

the codex for [field/country]

consult the codex

用法筆記

Used mainly for official standards in medicine or pharmacy. It usually refers to an authorized reference source rather than a personal study book.

常見錯誤

❌I checked the codex for a tomato soup recipe.
✅I checked the cookbook for a tomato soup recipe.
💡this sense is limited to official medicine or chemical standards.