noun
population
The process of establishing inhabitants in an area.
New roads encourage the gradual population of this remote valley.
Etymology
The word family derives from people or inhabitants. This action sense names the process of supplying a place with a population.
More examples
- The population of the island began with a few fishing families.
- Reliable water supplies make the population of dry regions possible.
- Automatic population of the database saves hours of typing.
Forms
population
populate verb — To fill with inhabitants or data.
Similar words
- settlement
- Emphasizes people moving into an area and establishing homes.
- colonization
- Often involves settlers establishing control over a new territory.