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naturalize

Syllabification: (nat·u·ral·ize)
Pronunciation: /ˈnaCHərəˌlīz/
Translate naturalize | into French | into German | into Italian
Definition of naturalize

verb

[with object]
  • 1 (often be/become naturalized) admit (a foreigner) to the citizenship of a country:he was born in a foreign country and had never been naturalized (as adjective naturalized)a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Germany
  • [no object] (of a foreigner) be admitted to the citizenship of a country:the opportunity to naturalize as American
  • alter (an adopted foreign word) so that it conforms more closely to the phonology or orthography of the adopting language:the stoccafisso of Liguria was naturalized in Nice as stocoficada
  • 2 (usually as adjective naturalized) Biology establish (a plant or animal) so that it lives wild in a region where it is not indigenous:native and naturalized species black mustard has become naturalized in America
  • (with reference to a cultivated plant) establish or become established in a natural situation: [with object]:this species of crocus naturalizes itself very easily
  • 3regard as or cause to appear natural:although women do more child care than men, feminists should beware of naturalizing that fact
  • explain (a phenomenon) in a naturalistic way.

Derivatives

naturalization

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French naturaliser, from Old French natural (see natural)

naturalize in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of naturalize in the British & World English dictionary
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