monterey

noun

1. a city in W California, on Monterey Bay: the capital of California until 1847.
2. Monterey Jack.

noun

1. a city in W California: capital of Spain’s Pacific empire from 1774 to 1825; taken by the US (1846). Pop: 29 960 (2003 est)

city in California, U.S., formerly the Spanish Pacific capital, named for the bay, which was named 1603 for Spanish colonist and viceroy of New Spain Conde de Monterrey. The Monterrey in Mexico also is named for him.