naturalize

/ˈnætʃərəˌlaɪz/
verb
  1. To make a foreigner a citizen of a country.
    • She was naturalized as a Canadian citizen in a special ceremony.
    • The government decided to naturalize thousands of refugees after the war.
    • Laws vary on how quickly a country can naturalize new residents.
  2. To introduce a plant or animal to a new area where it can live and reproduce in the wild.
    • The park service tries not to naturalize species that might harm native wildlife.
    • Some gardeners naturalize bulbs by planting them in grassy areas where they spread freely.
    • European settlers naturalized many familiar plants in North America.
  3. To adopt a word, custom, or idea from another culture and make it seem native or familiar.
    • Over time, the immigrant community naturalized its traditional dishes into the local cuisine.
    • English has naturalized many words from French, like 'ballet' and 'café'.
    • The holiday was naturalized in the country and is now celebrated by everyone.
Antonyms