Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Colony?

\Col"o*ny\, n.; pl. {Colonies}. [L. colonia, fr. colonus farmer, fr. colere to cultivate, dwell: cf. F. colonie. Cf. {Culture}.] 1. A company of people transplanted from their mother country to a remote province or country, and remaining subject to the jurisdiction of the parent state; as, the British colonies in America. The first settlers of New England were the best of Englishmen, well educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was never a colony formed of better materials. --Ames. 2. The district or country colonized; a settlement. 3. A company of persons from the same country sojourning in a foreign city or land; as, the American colony in Paris. 4. (Nat. Hist.) A number of animals or plants living or growing together, beyond their usual range.
\Col"o*ny\, n. 1. (Bot.) A cell family or group of common origin, mostly of unicellular organisms, esp. among the lower alg[ae]. They may adhere in chains or groups, or be held together by a gelatinous envelope. 2. (Zo["o]l.) A cluster or aggregation of zooids of any compound animal, as in the corals, hydroids, certain tunicates, etc. 3. (Zo["o]l.) A community of social insects, as ants, bees, etc.