WordWeb Online

1. Settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world
   "Europeans colonised Africa in the 17th century";
   - colonize
    
2. Settle as colonists or establish a colony (in)
   "The British colonised the East Coast";
   - colonize

Derived forms: colonised, colonises, colonising

Type of: annex, locate, settle

Antonym: decolonise [Brit]

Encyclopedia: Colonise