POACH Definition & Meaning

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poach

[ pohch ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to cook (eggs, fish, fruits, etc.) in a hot liquid that is kept just below the boiling point.

poach

[ pohch ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to trespass on (private property), especially in order to hunt or fish.
to steal (game or fish) from another's property.
to take without permission and use as one's own:
to poach ideas;
a staff poached from other companies.
to break or tear up by trampling.
to mix with water and reduce to a uniform consistency, as clay.

verb (used without object)

to trespass, especially on another's game preserve, in order to steal animals or to hunt.
to take game or fish illegally.
(of land) to become broken up or slushy by being trampled.
(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) to play a ball hit into the territory of one's partner that is properly the partner's ball to play.
Informal. to cheat in a game or contest.

poach

/ ��əʊ��ʃ /

verb

to catch (game, fish, etc) illegally by trespassing on private property
to encroach on or usurp (another person's rights, duties, etc) or steal (an idea, employee, etc)
tennis badminton to take or play (shots that should belong to one's partner)
to break up (land) into wet muddy patches, as by riding over it, or (of land) to become broken up in this way
intr (of the feet, shoes, etc) to sink into heavy wet ground

poach

/ ��əʊ��ʃ /

verb

to simmer (eggs, fish, etc) very gently in water, milk, stock, etc

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��ǲ��a·�� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of poach¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun poche “poached eggs (in sauce),” from Old French ��ǳ��é, past participle of pochier “to bag (the yolk inside the white),” derivative of poche “bag, pocket,” from Middle Dutch poke poke ²

Origin of poach²

First recorded in 1520–30; of uncertain origin; perhaps from earlier meaning “to shove, thrust,” from Middle French pocher “to gouge,” from Germanic; akin to poke ¹

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of poach¹

C17: from Old French pocher, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch poken to prod; see poke ¹

Origin of poach²

C15: from Old French pochier to enclose in a bag (as the yolks are enclosed by the whites); compare poke ²

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And he also explores other topics like rhino poaching in South Africa and illegal gold mining in Colombia.

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It has been a career launching point for many prominent legal figures, with major law firms frequently poaching the top talent.

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The 34-year-old from Nuneaton experienced what it was like to be under the watch of the cartel in Colombia, visited a prison rife with gangs in the Philippines, and observed illegal poaching in South Africa.

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Sometimes former colleagues who have moved on to other restaurants try to poach her for their new establishments.

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He had previously steered his home country through the Great Recession as the governor of the Bank of Canada, the country's central bank, before being poached for Britain's top banking job.

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