Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense naturalizes, present participle naturalizing, past tense, past participle naturalizedregional note: in BRIT, also use naturalise
1. verb
To naturalize a species of plant means to start it growing in an area where it is not usually found. If a plant naturalizes in an area where it was not found before, it starts to grow there naturally.
A friend sent me a root from Mexico, and I hope to naturalize it. [VERB noun]
The plant naturalises well in grass. [VERB]
2. verb
If the government of a country naturalizes someone, they allow a person who was not born in that country to become a citizen of it.
No one expects the Baltic states to naturalise young Russian soldiers, but army pensionerscan be given citizenship. [VERB noun]
naturalization (nætʃərəlaɪzeɪʃən)uncountable noun
They swore their allegiance to the U.S.A. and received their naturalization papers.
3.
See also naturalized
More Synonyms of naturalize
naturalize in British English
or naturalise (ˈnætʃrəˌlaɪz, -tʃərə-)
verb
1. (transitive)
to give citizenship to (a person of foreign birth)
2.
to be or cause to be adopted in another place, as a word, custom, etc
3. (transitive)
to introduce (a plant or animal from another region) and cause it to adapt to local conditions
4. (intransitive)
(of a plant or animal) to adapt successfully to a foreign environment and spread there
5. (transitive)
to explain (something unusual) with reference to nature, excluding the supernatural
6. (transitive)
to make natural or more lifelike
Derived forms
naturalization (ˌnaturaliˈzation) or naturalisation (ˌnaturaliˈsation)
noun
naturalize in American English
(ˈnætʃərəlˌaɪz; ˈnætʃrəˌlaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈnaturalˌized or ˈnaturalˌizing
1.
to confer the rights of citizenship upon (an alien)
2.
to adopt and make common (a custom, word, etc.) from another country or place
3.
to adapt (a plant or animal) to a new environment; acclimate
4.
to explain (occurrences) by natural law, rejecting supernatural influence
5.
to make natural or less artificial; free from conventionality
verb intransitive
6.
to become naturalized, or as if native
7.
to study nature
Derived forms
naturalization (ˌnaturaliˈzation)
noun
Word origin
Fr naturaliser: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF & -ize
Examples of 'naturalize' in a sentence
naturalize
The plant escaped from the fields and naturalized in the fencerows.
Eddison, Sydney A Patchwork Garden: Unexpected Pleasures from a Country Garden (1990)
1 (verb)
Definition
to introduce (a plant or animal) into another region
The plant has been cultivated and naturalized all over the world.
Synonyms
domesticate
New World peoples domesticated a cornucopia of plants.
establish
introduce
The Government has introduced a number of other money-saving ideas.
adapt
Things will be different and we will have to adapt.
acclimatize
This year he has left early to acclimatize himself.
acclimate
2 (verb)
Definition
to give citizenship to (a person born in another country)
We are naturalized British citizens.
Synonyms
grant citizenship to
enfranchise
acculturate
give a passport to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acclimatize
Definition
to adapt to a new climate or environment
This year he has left early to acclimatize himself.
Synonyms
adapt,
prepare,
adjust,
accommodate,
accustom,
familiarize,
inure,
shape,
naturalize,
habituate,
acculturate,
acculture,
jack up (New Zealand)
in the sense of adapt
Definition
to adjust (something or oneself) to different conditions
Things will be different and we will have to adapt.
Synonyms
adjust,
change,
match,
alter,
modify,
accommodate,
comply,
conform,
reconcile,
harmonize,
familiarize,
habituate,
acclimatize
in the sense of introduce
Definition
to bring into use
The Government has introduced a number of other money-saving ideas.