colonise
UK: ˈkɒlənaɪz | US: ˈkɑːlənaɪz
vt. to establish a colony or colonies in (a place)
vt. to settle among and establish control over (the indigenous people of an area)
vt. (biology) to form a colony or group of organisms in a new habitat
The word traces back to Roman expansion, where colonia denoted strategic farming settlements that secured conquered lands. By the 16th century, "colonise" emerged in English to describe European nations establishing overseas territories, reflecting both agricultural and political control. The suffix -ise systematized the action, turning a noun into a verb of imperial enterprise.
European powers sought to colonise distant lands for resources.
The bacteria began to colonise the petri dish within 24 hours.
Critics argue that the novel romanticises the urge to colonise.
Invasive species can colonise ecosystems rapidly.
The policy aimed to colonise Mars by 2050.