colony
UK: ˈkɒləni | US: ˈkɑːləni
n. a country or area under the political control of a distant country, typically occupied by settlers
n. a group of people living together in a settlement, often with shared nationality or interests
n. (biology) a community of animals or plants of the same kind living close together
colony = colon<settle> + y<noun suffix>
- colon: Derived from Latin colōnus (farmer, settler), from colere (to cultivate, inhabit).
- y: A noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition (e.g., family, victory).
Etymology Origin:
The word colony traces back to Latin colōnia, meaning "settled land" or "farm," reflecting its agricultural roots. Roman colōniae were outposts established to secure conquered territories, often populated by retired soldiers. Over time, the term evolved to denote any foreign settlement under political control, later extending to biological communities (e.g., ant colonies). The morpheme colon preserves the original idea of "settling," while -y generalizes it into a noun.
Australia was originally a British colony.
The artist colony thrived in the rural village.
A colony of penguins gathered on the icy shore.
The space program aims to establish a Mars colony.
Bacterial colonies grew rapidly in the petri dish.