populate
UK: ˈpɒpjʊleɪt | US: ˈpɑːpjʊleɪt
vt. to inhabit or occupy a place with people or organisms
vt. to supply with inhabitants; colonize
vt. (computing) to fill a database or table with data
The word "populate" traces back to Latin populatus, the past participle of populare (to lay waste, ravage, or inhabit). Over time, the negative connotation of "ravaging" faded, and the term evolved to mean "to inhabit or fill with people." The root popul- (people) is also seen in words like "population" and "popular." The suffix -ate transforms it into a verb, emphasizing the action of filling or inhabiting.
The government plans to populate the rural areas with new settlers.
Birds populate the forest during the spring migration.
Developers must populate the database before testing the software.
The island was once densely populated but is now deserted.
Scientists study how animals populate different ecosystems.