name
Java
JAH-vuh
name
1
A large island in Indonesia, home to the capital, Jakarta.
"They flew into Jakarta before heading south across Java."
2
A widely used object-oriented programming language.
"The backend of the app was written in Java."
noun
1
Informal term for coffee.
"He grabbed a cup of java before the early meeting."
How to Use Java
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually either the Indonesian island, the programming language, or (informally, mainly American) a cup of coffee.
When to use it
"Java" for coffee is casual, mostly American slang.
Word Forms
Javas plural, javas plural, javas plural
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They flew into Jakarta before heading south across _____.
Etymology
The island name passed into English via Javanese, Franco-Italian, and Latin; the informal word for coffee comes from coffee historically grown on and shipped from Java, and the programming language borrowed the coffee name as a playful nod to its "Oak" origins.