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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Colony \Col"o*ny\ (k[o^]l"[-o]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Colonies}
(k[o^]l"[-o]*n[i^]z). [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 alg[ae]. 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]