n.; pl. Colonies [ L. colonia, fr. colonus farmer, fr. colere to cultivate, dwell: cf. F. colonie. Cf. Culture. ] 1. A company of people transplanted from their mother country to a remote province or country, and remaining subject to the jurisdiction of the parent state; as, the British colonies in America. [ 1913 Webster ]

The first settlers of New England were the best of Englishmen, well educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was never a colony formed of better materials. Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The district or country colonized; a settlement. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. a territory subject to the ruling governmental authority of another country and not a part of the ruling country. [ PJC ]

4. A company of persons from the same country sojourning in a foreign city or land; as, the American colony in Paris. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Nat. Hist.) A number of animals or plants living or growing together, beyond their usual range. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Bot.) A cell family or group of common origin, mostly of unicellular organisms, esp. among the lower algæ. They may adhere in chains or groups, or be held together by a gelatinous envelope. [ PJC ]

7. (Zool.) A cluster or aggregation of zooids of any compound animal, as in the corals, hydroids, certain tunicates, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

8. (Zool.) A community of social insects, as ants, bees, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. (Microbiology) a group of microorganisms originating as the descendents of one individual cell, growing on a gelled growth medium, as of gelatin or agar; especially, such a group that has grown to a sufficient number to be visible to the naked eye. [ PJC ]

n. (Microbiology) an instrument designed to conveniently count or assist counting colonies{ 9 } of microorganisms on a plate containing a gelled growth medium. One variety uses a pencil-like rod with a metal tip, which is connected by an electrical connection to the gelled growth medium; when touched to a colony{ 9 } on the plate, the completion of the electrical circuit causes an increment of 1 unit on the readout of the colony counter. [ PJC ]