To establish a colony in or on a place, often by settling a group of people there. The European powers sought to colonize various parts of Africa in the 19th century.
To send a group of settlers to a place and establish political control over it. The British attempted to colonize the region by sending settlers and establishing a government.
To take control of an area or a group of people, often by force, and exploit it economically. The company aimed to colonize the market by introducing its products aggressively.
To populate an area with a particular species, often referring to plants or animals. The invasive species began to colonize the wetland, outcompeting native plants.