colonize
UK/'kɒlәnaiz/US
TOEFLGREB2
Definitions
v.
To establish a colony in a place; to settle in and take control of a territory
在某地建立殖民地；定居并控制一片领土
v.
(of plants, animals, or microorganisms) to spread into and become established in a new area
（植物、动物或微生物）扩散到并定殖于新地区
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcolon (settle, inhabit) + -ize (to make/do) = 'to turn a place into a colony' — to go settle and control it. The biology sense rides the same image: bacteria, weeds, and seabirds colonize a habitat by spreading into and taking over new ground, even with no human settlers involved.
Root colon still carries 4 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.colonize a region殖民一个地区
- 2.colonize a planet殖民一颗星球
- 3.colonize new territory开拓新领土
Example Sentences
- 1.
European powers raced to colonize Africa in the 19th century.
- 2.
The settlers came to colonize the fertile river valley.
- 3.
Within days, bacteria can colonize an open wound.