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java

/ˈdʒɑvə/
/ˈdʒɑvə/
IPA guide

Other forms: javas

Java is an informal word for "coffee," so the next time you go out for breakfast, you can jauntily order a cup of java.

In North America, java has been slang for "coffee" since about 1850. Java is a coffee-producing region of what was then the Dutch East Indies and is now Indonesia, and while the term originally referred to coffee grown in Java, by the 20th century it was shorthand for any coffee. If you use this word these days, you're just as likely to be talking about the computer programming language called Java.

Definitions of java
  1. noun
    a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
    synonyms: coffee
    see moresee less
    types:
    coffee substitute
    a drink resembling coffee that is sometimes substituted for it
    Irish coffee
    sweetened coffee with Irish whiskey and whipped cream
    cafe au lait
    equal parts of coffee and hot milk
    cafe noir, demitasse
    small cup of strong black coffee without milk or cream
    decaf, decaffeinated coffee
    coffee with the caffeine removed
    drip coffee
    coffee made by passing boiling water through a perforated container packed with finely ground coffee
    espresso
    strong black coffee brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans
    cappuccino, cappuccino coffee, coffee cappuccino
    equal parts of espresso and hot milk topped with cinnamon and nutmeg and usually whipped cream
    ice coffee, iced coffee
    a strong sweetened coffee served over ice with cream
    instant coffee
    dehydrated coffee that can be made into a drink by adding hot water
    mocha, mocha coffee
    a superior dark coffee made from beans from Arabia
    Turkish coffee
    a drink made from pulverized coffee beans; usually sweetened
    cafe royale, coffee royal
    black coffee with Cognac and lemon peel and sugar
    chicory, chicory root
    root of the chicory plant roasted and ground to substitute for or adulterate coffee
    Postum
    trade mark for a coffee substitute invented by C. W. Post and made with chicory and roasted grains
    caffe latte, latte
    strong espresso coffee with a topping of frothed steamed milk
    type of:
    beverage, drink, drinkable, potable
    any liquid suitable for drinking
Pronunciation
US
/ˈdʒɑvə/
UK
/ˈdʒɑvə/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘java'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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