California

[ kal-uh-fawrn-yuh, -fawr-nee-uh ]

noun

1. a state in the western United States, on the Pacific coast. 158,693 square miles (411,015 square kilometers). : Sacramento. : CA (for use with zip code), Cal., Calif.
2. Gulf of California, an arm of the Pacific Ocean, extending northwest between the coast of western Mexico and the peninsula of Baja California. About 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) long; 62,600 square miles (162,100 square kilometers).

California

/ ˌkælɪˈfɔːnɪə /

noun

1. a state on the W coast of the US: the third largest state in area and the largest in population; consists of a narrow, warm coastal plain rising to the Coast Range, deserts in the south, the fertile central valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and the mountains of the Sierra Nevada in the east; major industries include the growing of citrus fruits and grapes, fishing, oil production, electronics, information technology, and films. Capital: Sacramento. Pop: 35 484 453 (2003 est). Area: 411 015 sq km (158 693 sq miles) AbbreviationCal.Calif.with zip codeCA
2. Gulf of California
   Gulf of California an arm of the Pacific Ocean, between Sonora and Lower California

California

1. State in the Far West bordered by Oregon to the north; Nevada and Arizona to the east; Baja California, Mexico , to the south; and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its capital is Sacramento , and its largest city is Los Angeles .

Notes

The state is famous for all the fads and ideas that originate there, many of which are considered strange or eccentric.

California is the most populous state. It is known for its earthquakes , high-tech (see also high-tech ) industries ( see Silicon Valley ), and agriculture.

During the California gold rush tens of thousands of people poured into California in search of gold. It is sometimes called the “Golden State.” ( See forty-niners .)

Other Words From

• Cali·fornian adjective noun

Example Sentences

In California, the San Diego Automotive Museum held a raffle for one of its classic cars to raise money to pay its staff.

From Washington Post

A year later, however, King and Goffin divorced, and she packed up her two children and traveled west to California, where she met James Taylor.

From Washington Post

Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric accused two of its former employees of accepting bribes to funnel business to a waste-hauling company after the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history.

From ProPublica

When Torlano returned to his home in Sugar Pine, California, a small community near the park’s south entrance, he called Zellers for beta, gleaning what he could.

From Outside Online

That policy change, he said, conflicted with California law.

From Washington Post

But since those rosy scenarios were first floated, the California political scene has grown more crowded.

From The Daily Beast

Newsom will likely be out if Harris runs since the two are considered allies, California political insiders said.

From The Daily Beast

Those threats prompted Lozoya to move her family to California for a time until things cooled down, she said in an interview.

From The Daily Beast

Excited, Shaheen wasted no time and began interviewing surgeons, deciding upon Dr. Curtis Crane in Greenbrae, California.

From The Daily Beast

Before it was split between Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Baluchistan spread over an area slightly larger than California.

From The Daily Beast

I really ought to visit my California estates, and I have always wanted to see that part of America.

From Project Gutenberg

I have always rather wanted to visit California, and started for it once upon a time—on my wedding journey.

From Project Gutenberg

It was one of those brilliant clear crisp days with which that high plateau can put even California to the blush.

From Project Gutenberg

(p. 340) In summer the roads are very dusty in California, and this dust is a disadvantage to the tobacco planter.

From Project Gutenberg

He'll push you all right, and as soon as you have swallowed the California codes you can practise in the courts by courtesy.

From Project Gutenberg