Java

[jah-vuh, jav-uh]

noun

1. the main island of Indonesia. 51,032 sq. mi. (132,173 sq. km).

2. (usually lowercase),  coffee.

   a cup of java.

Trademark.

1. Digital Technology.,  a brand name for a high-level, object-oriented programming language used primarily to build web-based applications.

Java

¹

/ ˈdʒɑːvə /

noun

1. a programming language especially applicable to the Internet

Java

²

/ ˈdʒɑːvə /

noun

1. Former spelling: Djawa. an island of Indonesia, south of Borneo, from which it is separated by the Java Sea : politically the most important island of Indonesia; it consists chiefly of active volcanic mountains and is densely forested. It came under Dutch control in 1596 and became part of Indonesia in 1949. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Capital: Jakarta. Pop (with Madura): 121 352 608 (2000 est). Area: 132 174 sq km (51 032 sq miles)

Java

1. Island in Indonesia, south of Borneo.

Java is one of the world's most densely populated regions.

It was under Dutch rule from 1619 to 1949.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Java¹

1550–60; of obscure origin; possibly from Sanskrit yāvadvīpa, yāvaka dvīpa “barley island” (the island was well known for the barley plant)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Java¹

C20: named after Java coffee, said to be consumed in large quantities by the language's creators

Example Sentences

At least 38 people died this month in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Central Java and around 13 are still missing.

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A devastating landslide also hit three villages in the Central Java district of Cilacap on Thursday last week.

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Clouds of ash and gas rise above Mount Semeru on Indonesia's main island of Java after eruptions force officials to raise the alert status to its highest level.

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Home in the wild for the small Silvery Gibbon is the rainforests of Java in Indonesia.

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Hundreds of students, most of them teenage boys, had gathered for prayers at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in East Java when it collapsed last Monday while undergoing construction.

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Related Words

• caffeine 
• cappuccino 
• espresso