1. a gathering of animals of the same species into a relatively large group that may or may not display social organization. A colony may provide the advantage of having many individuals available for locating food and defending against predators, but it has potential costs in terms of increased competition for food or breeding opportunities and increased potential for disease transmission.

2. a group of people who settle in a new territory but continue to have some relationship with their homeland.

3. a territory that has become subject to the political and economic control of another country, usually a distant one, as a result of settlement from that country. The settlers or their descendants usually form the ruling class, despite being a minority.

4. a group of individuals who share a common interest and live in proximity, such as an artists’ colony or nudist colony, or the place inhabited by such a group. —colonial adj. —colonialism n. —colonist n. —colonize vb.