colonize

[ kol-uh-nahyz ]
/ ˈkɒl əˌnaɪz /

verb (used with object), col·o·nized, col·o·niz·ing.

to establish a colony in; settle: England colonized Australia.
to form a colony of: to colonize laborers in a mining region.

verb (used without object), col·o·nized, col·o·niz·ing.

to form a colony: They went out to Australia to colonize.
to settle in a colony.
Also especially British, col·o·nise.

Origin of colonize

First recorded in 1615–25; colon(y) + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM colonize

Example sentences from the Web for colonization

British Dictionary definitions for colonization

colonize

colonise

/ (ˈkɒləˌnaɪz) /

verb

to send colonists to or establish a colony in (an area)
to settle in (an area) as colonists
(tr) to transform (a community) into a colony
(of plants and animals) to become established in (a new environment)

Derived forms of colonize

colonizable or colonisable, adjective colonization or colonisation, noun colonizer or coloniser, noun

Scientific definitions for colonization

colonization
[ kŏl′ə-nĭ-zāshən ]

The spreading of a species into a new habitat. For example, flying insects and birds are often the first animal species to initiate colonization of barren islands formed by vulcanism or falling water levels. The first plant species to colonize such islands are often transported there as airborne seeds or through the droppings of birds.