Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Populous \Pop"u*lous\, a. [L. populosus, fr. populus people: cf.
   F. populeux.]
   1. Abounding in people; full of inhabitants; containing many
      inhabitants in proportion to the extent of the country.

            Heaven, yet populous, retains Number sufficient to
            possess her realms.                   --Milton.

   2. Popular; famous. [Obs.] --J. Webster.

   3. Common; vulgar. [Obs.] --Arden of Feversham.

   4. Numerous; in large number. [Obs.] ``The dust . . . raised
      by your populous troops.'' --Shak. -- {Pop"u*lous*ly},
      adv. -- {Pop"u*lous*ness}, n.

Source : WordNet®

populous
     adj : densely populated [syn: {thickly settled}]