Colonies

Colony Col"o*ny (k[o^]l"[-o]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Colonies} (k[o^]l"[-o]*n[i^]z). [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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

2. The district or country colonized; a settlement. [1913 Webster]

3. a territory subject to the ruling governmental authority of another country and not a part of the ruling country. [PJC]

4. A company of persons from the same country sojourning in a foreign city or land; as, the American colony in Paris. [1913 Webster]

5. (Nat. Hist.) A number of animals or plants living or growing together, beyond their usual range. [1913 Webster]

6. (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. [PJC]

7. (Zo["o]l.) A cluster or aggregation of zooids of any compound animal, as in the corals, hydroids, certain tunicates, etc. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

8. (Zo["o]l.) A community of social insects, as ants, bees, etc. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

9. (Microbiology) a group of microorganisms originating as the descendents of one individual cell, growing on a gelled growth medium, as of gelatin or agar; especially, such a group that has grown to a sufficient number to be visible to the naked eye. [PJC]