colonised

Everyday

1. When a country colonised a land, it took control of it and sent its people to live there, often taking the land from the people already living there. tree →
2. (science) When animals or plants colonise a place, they move in and start living and growing there. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it comes with empires: Britain colonised Australia, India and parts of Africa and America, which brought great harm to the Indigenous peoples. In science, plants colonise new land after a volcano or fire. Phrases: colonised by, the colonised peoples.

Examples

• Britain colonised Australia and New Zealand. tree →
• The land was colonised by Europeans who took it from the people already living there. tree →
• Many colonised countries became independent later. tree →
• After the fire, grasses quickly colonised the bare ground. tree →
• Moss colonised the old wall. tree →
• Bacteria colonised the dish of jelly in our experiment. tree →

Note

UK spelling colonised, US colonized. Nouns: colony, colonist, colonisation, colonialism. Colonising was often violent and unfair; history books now tell both sides.