colonize

3 definitions • 8 examples

to send people to live in and govern another country:

Peru was colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century.

European nations set about violently invading and colonising large chunks of the globe.

Some scientists believe that we will have to colonise other planets.

(of animals, plants, or bacteria) to start to live or grow in a particular area:

The beetles colonise a tree, tunnelling through the bark to lay eggs.

The ceilings of the caves had been colonized by bats.

Left alone, domestic cats quickly colonize, breed and become wild.

The bacterium can colonise in the nose, throat, and skin without causing infection.

to fill a particular place or take control of a particular area of activity:

The city centre has been colonized by coffee shop chains.