( BrE also nat·ur·al·ise ) / ˈnætʃrəlaɪz; NAmE / verb [ usually passive ]
1.
[ vn ] to make sb who was not born in a particular country a citizen of that country
2.
[ vn ] to introduce a plant or an animal to a country where it is not native
3.
[ v ] ( of a plant or an animal ) to start growing or living naturally in a country where it is not native
► nat·ur·al·iza·tion , nat·ur·al·isa·tion / ˌnætʃrəlaɪˈzeɪʃn; NAmE -ləˈz-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French naturaliser , from Old French natural , from Latin naturalis , from natura birth, nature, quality, from nat- born, from the verb nasci .