naturalize

especially British, nat·u·ral·ise

[nach-er-uh-lahyz, nach-ruh-]

verb (used with object)

naturalized, naturalizing 

1. to confer upon (an alien) the rights and privileges of a citizen.

2. to introduce (organisms) into a region and cause them to flourish as if native.

3. to introduce or adopt (foreign practices, words, etc.) into a country or into general use.

   to naturalize a French phrase.

4. to bring into conformity with nature.

5. to regard or explain as natural rather than supernatural.

   to naturalize miracles.

6. to adapt or accustom to a place or to new surroundings.

verb (used without object)

naturalized, naturalizing 

1. to become naturalized.

2. to adapt as if native to a new environment, set of circumstances, etc.

3. to study or carry on research in natural history.

naturalize

/ -tʃərə-, ˈnætʃrəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) 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. (tr) to introduce (a plant or animal from another region) and cause it to adapt to local conditions

4. (intr) (of a plant or animal) to adapt successfully to a foreign environment and spread there

5. (tr) to explain (something unusual) with reference to nature, excluding the supernatural

6. (tr) to make natural or more lifelike

naturalize

1. To establish a nonnative species in a region where it is able to reproduce successfully and live alongside native species in the wild. Naturalized species may be introduced intentionally or unintentionally. Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia but have become naturalized in many other parts of the world.

Other Word Forms

• naturalization noun
• naturalizer noun
• unnaturalize verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of naturalize¹

First recorded in 1585–95; natural + -ize

Example Sentences

One answer is embodied by the nearly 1 million people who choose to become naturalized Americans each year.

From Salon

Why should Democrats have assumed that newly naturalized citizens would be progressive, rather than importing, out of pure habit, the machismo and caudillismo of Guatemala or Honduras, or the authoritarianism of South Asia?

From Salon

That same night, the feds raided the place, and subpoenaed its owner, a German-born naturalized citizen, and three employees.

From Los Angeles Times

His mother told the paper that she and her husband entered the U.S. on business visas in the 1980s but by the time they became naturalized citizens, Kim was too old to get automatic citizenship.

From Los Angeles Times

The same has been true for Mirtha, a naturalized citizen who lives in Maywood with her husband, whose immigration status is uncertain, and their five U.S.-born children.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• familiarize