Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Definition of populate - 3 dictionary results

pop⋅u⋅late

  [pop-yuh-leyt]
Use populate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.
1. to inhabit; live in; be the inhabitants of.
2. to furnish with inhabitants, as by colonization; people.
Origin:
1570–80; < ML populātus, ptp. of populāre to inhabit. See people, -ate 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To populate
pop·u·late   (pŏp'yə-lāt')   
tr.v.   pop·u·lat·ed, pop·u·lat·ing, pop·u·lates

  1. To supply with inhabitants, as by colonization; people.

  2. To live in; inhabit: creatures that populate the ocean depths.


[Medieval Latin populāre, populāt-, from Latin populus, the people; see popular.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

populate 
1574, from M.L. populatus, pp. of populare "inhabit," from L. populus "inhabitants." Population "the degree to which a place is populated" is first recorded 1612, from L.L. populationem (c.470, nom. populatio) "a people, multitude," as if a noun of action from L. populus "people." Population explosion is first attested 1953.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see populate on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way