colonize

One entry found for colonize.

Main Entry: col·o·nize
Pronunciation: käl--nz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -nized; -niz·ing
transitive verb
1 : to establish a colony in or on <the parasitic roundworms...have succeeded in colonizing a great variety of hosts -- W. H. Dowdeswell>
2 : to isolate in supervised groups
intransitive verb, of microorganisms : to become established in a habitat (as a host or a wound) <these bacteria in turn colonize in other parts of the body -- R. A. Runnells>
- col·o·ni·za·tion /käl--n-z-shn/ noun