Ada

High-level computer-programming language, developed and owned by the US Department of Defense, designed for use in situations in which a computer directly controls a process or machine, such as a military aircraft. The language took more than five years to specify, and became commercially available only in the late 1980s. It is named after English mathematician Ada Augusta Byron.

Ada

Town in Kent County, southwest Michigan, USA; population (1990) 7,600. It is situated at the confluence of the Thornapple and Grand rivers, 14 km/9 mi east of Grand Rapids. It is known for its covered bridge over the Thornapple and for its turn-of-the-century architecture. Situated on the Grand Trunk Railway, Ada is home to Amway's world corporate headquarters, which include a museum, research and development areas, and Michigan's largest commercial printshop.

Ada

Town in Hardin County, northwest Ohio, USA; population (1990) 5,400. Situated 24 km/15 mi northeast of Lima, it is a trading centre for an agricultural district, and home to Ohio Northern University (1871).

Ada

Town and administrative headquarters of Pontotoc County in south-central Oklahoma, USA; population (1990) 15,800. Located 104 km/65 mi southeast of Oklahoma City, it is a market and shipping point for corn, cotton, dairy items, and livestock and for oil, which is refined here. Manufactures include cement, glass, mobile homes, and bricks. It is home to East Central University (1909).