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Colonize

//ˈkɑlənaɪz// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To settle (a place) with colonists, and hence make (a place) into a colony. transitive

    "When you are colonized by dangerous bacteria their presence in your body does no damage. You become a reservoir for those little stinkers."

  2. 2
    settle as colonists or establish a colony (in) wordnet
  3. 3
    To settle among and establish control over (the indigenous people of an area). transitive

    "The administration finally sent a naval vessel to return the 368 survivors to the United States in 1864. This ended official efforts to colonize blacks."

  4. 4
    settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world wordnet
  5. 5
    To begin a colony or colonies. intransitive
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  1. 6
    To intrude into and take over (the autonomy, experience, social movement, etc, of a less powerful person or group); to commandeer or appropriate. broadly, transitive

    "What disservice would be done if issues regarding sexualities in organisations were side-lined by a heteronormative impetus to colonise queer theory?"

Etymology

From colony + -ize.

See also for "colonize"

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