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 colonize

British Dictionary definitions for colonize

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