colonize

v. settle, establish colonies, go to and live in a colony (also colonise)

Colonisation or colonization occurs whenever any one or more species populates a new area. The term, which is derived from the Latin colere, "to inhabit, cultivate, frequent, practice, tend, guard, respect," originally related to humans. However, 19th century biogeographers borrowed the term to describe the activities of birds or bacteria, or plant species. Human colonisation is a narrower category than the related concept of colonialism, because whereas colonisation refers to the establishment of settler colonies, trading posts, and plantations with your own population, colonisalism deals with this and the ruling of existing overseas peoples.
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Verb
1. settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world; "Europeans colonized Africa in the 17th century"
(synonym) colonise
(antonym) decolonize, decolonise
(hypernym) annex
(derivation) colonization, colonisation, settlement
2. settle as colonists or establish a colony (in); "The British colonized the East Coast"
(synonym) colonise
(hypernym) settle, locate
(derivation) colonization, colonisation, settlement

v. colonize, settle, plant

(v. t.)
To plant or establish a colony or colonies in; to people with colonists; to migrate to and settle in.
  

(v. i.)
To remove to, and settle in, a distant country; to make a colony.