# java

/ˈdʒɑvə/ (US) · /dʒˈɑːvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/java
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. Indonesian island

noun · CEFR B1

A large island in Indonesia where the capital city, Jakarta, is located.

For teachers: A major island of the Indonesian archipelago, serving as the nation's economic and political centre.

- Java is the most populated island in Indonesia and has many beautiful volcanoes.
- The cultural history of Java is incredibly rich, influenced by centuries of trade and the rise of powerful Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic kingdoms.

### 2. programming language

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

A popular computer programming language used to build apps and websites.

For teachers: A high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.

- Many large companies use Java to run their internal business systems.
- The developer chose Java for the backend architecture due to its robust memory management and platform independence.

### 3. coffee

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

A casual or slang word for a cup of coffee.

For teachers: A colloquial term for coffee, originally referring to coffee grown on the island of Java.

- I really need a hot cup of java before I start my work today.
- We stopped at a small roadside diner for some fresh java and a quick breakfast before continuing our cross-country drive.

## Examples

- I need a fresh cup of java before I start work.
- The local café is famous for serving the strongest java in the neighborhood.
- While some prefer tea to start their morning, he finds that only a steaming mug of java provides the necessary caffeine to tackle a long day of meetings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.