naturalize: Meaning and Definition of
nat•u•ral•ize
Pronunciation: (nach'ur-u-līz", nach'ru-), [key] — v., -ized, -iz•ing.
—v.t. - to confer upon (an alien) the rights and privileges of a citizen.
- to introduce (organisms) into a region and cause them to flourish as if native.
- to introduce or adopt (foreign practices, words, etc.) into a country or into general use: to naturalize a French phrase.
- to bring into conformity with nature.
- to regard or explain as natural rather than supernatural: to naturalize miracles.
- to adapt or accustom to a place or to new surroundings.
—v.i. - to become naturalized.
- to adapt as if native to a new environment, set of circumstances, etc.
- to study or carry on research in natural history.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.