I. kəˈlōnyəl, -nēəl adjective
Etymology: French, from colonie colony (from Old French) + -al — more at colony
1.
a. : of, for, or relating to a colony : having the characteristics or status of a colony
colonial possessions
colonial administration
b. often capitalized : of or relating to the 13 English colonies that first formed the United States of America: as
(1) : made or prevailing in America during the colonial period
a colonial spoon dated 1730
colonial architecture was a modification of English Georgian
(2) : adapted from or reminiscent of an American colonial mode of design
a colonial piano
c. : possessing colonies : composed of colonies
Britain's colonial empire
d.
(1) : of or relating to the period of A.D. 500-900 in southwestern United States characterized by Hohokam expansion
(2) : of or relating to the period of Spanish overlordship in Mexico about 1535-1821
(3) : of or relating to the period about 1544-1824 in Peru characterized by a continuation of Spanish conquest and merging of native states
2. biology : forming, existing in, consisting of, or used by a colony
a colonial organism (as Volvox )
colonial burrows
• co·lo·ni·al·ly -əlē, -li adverb
• co·lo·ni·al·ness noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a member or inhabitant of a colony
battles between Indians and the colonials
British colonials in India
2. : a low shoe with a broad flaring tongue and usually a large buckle worn in the colonial days of America
3.
a. : a product made for use in a colony ; specifically : a coin or stamp issued for use in a colony ; especially : a coin of colonial America
b. : a security involving a colonial enterprise or development — usually used in plural
c. : a product showing colonial style