A defined abbrev is a word which expands, if you insert it, into some different text.
They are really simple and really helpful if you like this kind of thing. If you grew up hacking on Java, then you surely already use this in IntelliJ IDEA!
Here is a nice post on how to choose and define abbrevs based upon actual usage.
Grant Rettke: Expanding and Using Abbreviations in Emacs http://t.co/bEZYKnmMQR
Grant Rettke: Expanding and Using Abbreviations in #Emacs: http://t.co/2gaRYnehZ2