state of the SW U.S., on the Pacific coast: admitted, 1850; 155,959 sq mi (403,933 sq km); pop. 33,872,000; cap. Sacramento: abbrev. CA, Cal, or Calif
arm of the Pacific, between Baja California and the Mexican mainland
See California in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kălˌĭ-fôrˈnyə, -fôrˈnē-ə)
Abbr. CA or Cal. or Calif.
A state of the western United States on the Pacific Ocean. It was admitted as the 31st state in 1850. The area was colonized by the Spanish and formally ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). California is often called the Golden State because of its sunny climate and the discovery of gold during its pioneering days. Sacramento is the capital and Los Angeles the largest city. Population: 36,600,000.
Related Forms:
Calˌi·forˈnian adjective & n.
, Gulf of
An arm of the Pacific Ocean in northwest Mexico separating Baja California from the mainland.