verb
people
To inhabit or fill a place with people.
The novelist peoples her stories with memorable local characters.
Etymology
The noun people became a verb for supplying a place with inhabitants. A place is peopled when a population lives in or fills it.
More examples
- Settlers peopled the valley.
- His dreams were peopled by strangers.
- Fishing communities people the coastline.
Forms
people · peoples · peopled · peopling
Similar words
- populate
- The more usual verb for filling an area with people.