definition of
settlement

[1] #1 settlement n. [colony] a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government; "the American colony in Paris". wn

[2] #2 settlement n. [village, small town] a community of people smaller than a town. wn

[3] #3 settlement n. a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it. wn

[4] #4 settlement n. [colonization, colonisation] the act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies; "the British colonization of America". wn

[5] #5 settlement n. [resolution, closure] something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making; "they finally reached a settlement with the union"; "they never did achieve a final resolution of their differences"; "he needed to grieve before he could achieve a sense of closure". wn