Collins English-English Dictionary

establish [ɪ'stæblɪʃ]

1. 1. vb [usually tr] to make secure or permanent in a certain place, condition, job, etc

   to establish one's usefulness

   to establish a house

2. 2. vb to create or set up (an organization, etc) on or as if on a permanent basis

   to establish a company

3. 3. vb to prove correct or free from doubt; validate

   to establish a fact

4. 4. vb to cause (a principle, theory, etc) to be widely or permanently accepted

   to establish a precedent

5. 5. vb to give (a Church) the status of a national institution

6. 6. vb (of a person) to become recognized and accepted

   he established himself as a reliable GP

7. 7. vb (in works of imagination) to cause (a character, place, etc) to be credible and recognized

   the first scene established the period

8. 8. vb [cards] to make winners of (the remaining cards of a suit) by forcing out opponents' top cards

9. 9. vb [botany] [also intr] to cause (a plant) to grow or (of a plant) to grow in a new place

   the birch scrub has established over the past 25 years

10. 10. vb to become or cause to become a sapling or adult plant from a seedling

11. 11. vb [Etymology] C14: from Old French establir, from Latin stabilire to make firm, from stabilis stable²