California

UK: /ˌkælɪˈfɔː^rniə/ US: (kal′ə fôrn′yə, -fôr′nē ə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Cal•i•for•nia  (kal′ə fôrn′yə, -fôr′nē ə), n. 

1. Place Names a state in the W United States, on the Pacific coast. 23,668,562;
   158,693 sq. mi. (411,015 sq. km). Cap.: Sacramento. Abbr.: CA (for use with zip code), Cal., Calif.
2. Place Names Gulf of, an arm of the Pacific Ocean, extending NW between the coast of W Mexico and the peninsula of Lower California. ab. 750 mi. (1207 km) long;
   62,600 sq. mi. (162,100 sq. km).

Cal′i•for′nian, adj., n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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)
   Abbreviation: Cal., Calif., (with zip code) CA
2. Gulf of California ⇒ an arm of the Pacific Ocean, between Sonora and Lower California