Word before "code" or "rug" (4)
I believe the answer is:
area
'word before code or rug' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for area that I've seen before include "field of study" , "Locality" , "Region, zone" , "Space occupied by something" , "Extent of a 2-dimensional surface" .)