Definition of 'colonize'

Word Frequency

colonize

(kɒlənaɪz )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense colonizes , present participle colonizing , past tense, past participle colonized regional note: in BRIT, also use colonise

1. verb

If people colonize a foreign country, they go to live there and take control of it.

The first British attempt to colonize Ireland was in the twelfth century. [VERB noun]

Liberia was never colonised by the European powers. [VERB noun]

For more than 400 years, we were a colonized people. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: settle, populate, put down roots in, people More Synonyms of colonize

colonizerWord forms: plural colonizers countable noun [usually plural]

To the former Belgian colonizers, Rwanda was a paradise.

colonization (kɒlənaɪzeɪʃən ) uncountable noun [usually with supplement]

...the European colonization of America.

2. verb

When large numbers of animals colonize a place, they go to live there and make it their home.

Toads are colonising the whole place. [VERB noun]

3. verb [usually passive]

When an area is colonized by a type of plant, the plant grows there in large amounts.

The area was then colonized by scrub. [be VERB-ed + by]

Video: pronunciation of 'colonize'

Word Frequency

colonize in British

or colonise (ˈkɒləˌnaɪz )

verb

to send colonists to or establish a colony in (an area)

to settle in (an area) as colonists

3. (transitive)

to transform (a community) into a colony

(of plants and animals) to become established in (a new environment)

Derived forms

colonizable (ˈcoloˌnizable) or colonisable (ˈcoloˌnisable)

adjective

colonization (ˌcoloniˈzation) or colonisation (ˌcoloniˈsation)

noun

colonizer (ˈcoloˌnizer) or coloniser (ˈcoloˌniser)

noun

Word Frequency

colonize in American

(ˈkɑləˌnaɪz ; kälˈənīzˌ)

verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcoloˌnized or ˈcoloˌnizing

to found or establish a colony or colonies in

to settle (persons) in a colony

3. US

to place (voters) illegally in (a district) so as to influence an election

verb intransitive

to found or establish a colony or colonies

to settle in a colony

Derived forms

colonization (ˌcoloniˈzation)

noun

colonizer (ˈcoloˌnizer)

noun

Trends of 'colonize'

Used Occasionally. colonize is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'colonize'

British English: colonize VERB

If people colonize a foreign country, they go to live there and take control of it.

The first British attempt to colonize Ireland was in the twelfth century.

American English: colonize
Brazilian Portuguese: colonizar
Chinese: 把…变为殖民地
European Spanish: colonizar
French: coloniser
German: kolonisieren
Italian: colonizzare
Japanese: 植民地にする
Korean: 식민지로 만들다
European Portuguese: colonizar
Spanish: colonizar

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Nearby words of 'colonize'

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Definition of colonize from the Collins English Dictionary

Must

Must is used to express obligation, give orders and give advice. It can only be used for present and future reference. When the past is involved, you use have to. Must is used: to express obligati...