The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Colonize \Col"o*nize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Colonized; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Colonizing.] [Cf. F. coloniser.]
   To plant or establish a colony or colonies in; to people with
   colonists; to migrate to and settle in. --Bacon.
   [1913 Webster]

         They that would thus colonize the stars with
         inhabitants.                             --Howell.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Colonize \Col"o*nize\, v. i.
   To remove to, and settle in, a distant country; to make a
   colony. --C. Buchanan.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

colonize
    v 1: settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world;
         "Europeans colonized Africa in the 17th century" [syn:
         colonize, colonise] [ant: decolonise, decolonize]
    2: settle as colonists or establish a colony (in); "The British
       colonized the East Coast" [syn: colonize, colonise]