It has to do with a concept called synchronization.
Java is a multi-threaded language, meaning that a program can be written so that multiple processing "threads" can run simultaneously on a multi-processor machine; on a single processor machine, the JVM interleaves the various threads to make them appear to be running simultaneously.
At any rate, if there is a piece of code (a method)or an object that cannot safely be shared by more than one
thread at the same time, we can do what is called "syncronizing" on that object or method so that it is GUARANTEED that only one thread can be accessing/affecting it at any given time.
These methods have to do with giving an Object the capability to be synchronized upon.
Hope this helps!