population population /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/

noun

1. () The people who inhabit a territory or state  ( population )
   the people who inhabit a territory or state
    The population seemed to be well fed and clothed
   the population seemed to be well fed and clothed
   
2. () A group of organisms of the same species inhabiting a given area  ( population )
   a group of organisms of the same species inhabiting a given area
    They hired hunters to keep down the deer population
   they hired hunters to keep down the deer population
   
3. () (statistics) the entire aggregation of items from which samples can be drawn  ( universe , population )
   (statistics) the entire aggregation of items from which samples can be drawn
    It is an estimate of the mean of the population
   it is an estimate of the mean of the population
   
4. () The number of inhabitants (either the total number or the number of a particular race or class) in a given place (country or city etc.)  ( population )
   the number of inhabitants (either the total number or the number of a particular race or class) in a given place (country or city etc.)
    People come and go, but the population of this town has remained approximately constant for the past decade
   people come and go, but the population of this town has remained approximately constant for the past decade
    The African-American population of Salt Lake City has been increasing
   the African-American population of Salt Lake City has been increasing
   
   
5. The act of populating (causing to live in a place)  ( population )
   the act of populating (causing to live in a place)
    He deplored the population of colonies with convicted criminals
   he deplored the population of colonies with convicted criminals