[gpvos]

More like interpreted rather than compiled. (I'm pretty sure a google search on "interpreted versus compiled" will get you up to speed with the basics on this point.) This is generally seen as one of the main differences between "scripting" and "serious" languages.

The twist is that the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is also a kind of interpreter, but can do on-the-spot ("just-in-time") compilation of parts of the code as well.