- (of a nation or government) to claim and forcibly take control of (a territory other than its own), usually sending some of its own people to settle there: England colonized Australia.
- to move from one’s own country and settle in (such a territory): Dutch farmers were among the first Europeans to colonize the river valleys of New Jersey and New York.
- to be the first settlers in: Southern Pacific islanders are thought to have colonized Hawaii around a.d. 450.
- to compel or induce (people) to settle in an area for economic or political purposes:The government made efforts to colonize laborers and their families in areas suitable for growing rice.
- (of a species of plant or animal) to move or be transported to (a new habitat) and seek to become established there: Arthropods were the first animal species to colonize land around 450 million years ago.
- (of a microbe) to multiply on or in (another organism), especially without causing infection or disease: Researchers attempted to get the bacteria in a probiotic to successfully colonize the intestines of 23 volunteers.
- to take control of or settle in territories other than one’s own: Many other European powers were colonizing during the modern period besides France.When the British colonized in Australia, the basic rights of Aboriginals were taken away.
- to send colonists to or establish a colony in (an area)
- to settle in (an area) as colonists
- to transform (a community) into a colony
- (of plants and animals) to become established in (a new environment)
