popular, povoar, habitar
1. To fill or supply with inhabitants or residents
Settlers began to populate the new territory in the 18th century.
Os colonos começaram a popular o novo território no século XVIII.
2. To inhabit or live in a place
Many species of birds populate the wetlands during migration season.
Muitas espécies de aves populam os pântanos durante a estação de migração.
3. To fill or stock something with data, information, or items
The software will automatically populate the form with your saved information.
O software preencherá automaticamente o formulário com suas informações salvas.
4. To cause an increase in population or inhabitants
Immigration policies can significantly populate urban areas.
As políticas de imigração podem significativamente popular áreas urbanas.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'popular' and 'povoar' are used interchangeably in most contexts. The digital/tech usage of 'populate' (meaning to fill a form or database) has become increasingly common in Brazil with the term 'preencher' or 'popular' both being acceptable. In historical contexts, 'colonizar' may be used when discussing the founding and settling of new territories, particularly regarding Brazil's colonial period.
Related Idioms & Phrases
populate with - to fill something with specific content or people
densely populated - describing an area with high population density
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