1. Colony: This is the most common meaning, referring to a settlement or territory under the control of another country. For example, "la colonia española en América" (the Spanish colony in America).
2. Neighborhood: This is another common meaning, referring to a residential area or district within a city or town. For example, "vivo en la colonia Roma" (I live in the Roma neighborhood).
3. Perfume: In some parts of Latin America, "colonia" is used to refer to a type of light, cologne-like fragrance. For example, "compré una colonia para mi papá" (I bought a cologne for my dad).
4. Group: In some contexts, "colonia" can also refer to a group of people with common interests, such as a "colonia de artistas" (a group of artists).
To determine the exact meaning of "colonia" in a specific context, you should consider the surrounding words and the overall meaning of the sentence.