Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense poaches, present participle poaching, past tense, past participle poached
1. verb
If someone poaches fish, animals, or birds, they illegally catch them on someone else's property.
Many wildlife parks are regularly invaded by people poaching game. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: steal, rob, plunder, hunt or fish illegally More Synonyms of poach
poacherWord forms: plural poacherscountable noun
Security cameras have been installed to guard against poachers.
poachinguncountable noun
...the poaching of elephants for their tusks.
2. verb
If an organization poaches members or customers from another organization, they secretly or dishonestly persuade them to join them or become their customers.
The company authorised its staff to poach customers from the opposition. [VERB noun]
...allegations that it had poached members from other unions. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: take, steal, appropriate, snatch [informal] More Synonyms of poach
poachinguncountable noun
The union was accused of poaching.
3. verb
If someone poaches an idea, they dishonestly or illegally use the idea.
The opposition parties complained that the government had poached their ideas. [VERB noun]
4. verb
When you poach an egg, you cook it gently in boiling water without its shell.
Poach the eggs for 4 minutes. [VERB noun]
He had a light breakfast of poached eggs and tea. [VERB-ed]
5. verb
If you poach food such as fish, you cook it gently in boiling water, milk, or other liquid.
Poach the chicken until just cooked. [VERB noun]
...a pear poached in syrup. [VERB-ed]
The main course was to be a whole poached salmon. [VERB-ed]
poachinguncountable noun
You will need a pot of broth for poaching.
More Synonyms of poach
poach in British English1
(pəʊtʃ)
verb
1.
to catch (game, fish, etc) illegally by trespassing on private property
2.
to encroach on or usurp (another person's rights, duties, etc) or steal (an idea, employee, etc)
3. tennis, badminton
to take or play (shots that should belong to one's partner)
4.
to break up (land) into wet muddy patches, as by riding over it, or (of land) to become broken up in this way
5. (intransitive)
(of the feet, shoes, etc) to sink into heavy wet ground
Word origin
C17: from Old French pocher, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch poken to prod; see poke1
poach in British English2
(pəʊtʃ)
verb
to simmer (eggs, fish, etc) very gently in water, milk, stock, etc
Word origin
C15: from Old French pochier to enclose in a bag (as the yolks are enclosed by the whites); compare poke2
poach in American English1
(poʊtʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to soften, tear up, or make holes in (ground) by stamping; trample
2.
to mix with water until smooth
3.
a.
to trespass on (private property), esp. for hunting or fishing
b.
to hunt or catch (game or fish) illegally, esp. by trespassing
4.
to take (anything) by unfair or illegal methods; steal
verb intransitive
5.
to sink into soft or wet earth when walking
6.
to become soggy or full of holes when trampled; turn into mud
7.
to hunt or fish illegally, esp. by trespassing on
8. Racket Sports
to return a shot near the net that was intended for one's partner in the back court
Derived forms
poacher (ˈpoacher)
noun
Word origin
Fr pocher < OFr pochier, to tread upon, intrude < MHG bochen, puchen, to strike upon, plunder, akin to poke1
poach in American English2
(poʊtʃ)
verb transitive
to cook (fish, an egg without its shell, etc.) in water or other liquid near boilingpoint, or in a small receptacle placed over boiling water
Word origin
ME pochen < MFr pochier, to pocket < poche, pouch, pocket (< Frank *pokka, pocket: for IE base see poke2): the yolk is “pocketed” in the white
Examples of 'poach' in a sentence
poach
Serve with rice and poached fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Serve with rice and poached fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Serve generous dollops of the mayonnaise next to the poached fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Remove the haddock from the pan and reserve the poaching milk.
The Sun (2014)
Or think of tea as a stock for poaching chicken or fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Gently poach strawberries in a few tablespoons for a simple dessert.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Gently remove the fish from the poaching liquor.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Add the quince and gently poach until tender.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Chinese leaves are wonderful with braised and poached fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Carefully divide the poached fish into four pieces and place on top of the cucumber.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Stir in flour, then gradually add poaching milk.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Remove from the heat and add 600ml of the reserved milk used to poach the fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But they're best poached in milk.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The potatoes should poach very gently in the cream, which must not boil.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Lower the heat and poach gently for about 5 minutes until the peaches are just tender.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Use the liquor to poach the fish for 1 minute only.
Conil, Jean & Conil, Christopher (ed) A Passion for Food (1989)
There will also be poached chicken, fish and a vegetarian option.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Gently poach for a further 5 minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Remove the pan from the heat, leaving the fish to poach until it is opaque.
The Sun (2012)
Gently poach, adding a teaspoon of lemon zest and pinch of dried sage.
The Sun (2011)
I use the microwave, but you could just as well poach it in milk.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Mix the mustard with 3 tbsp of the poaching milk, and stir into the potatoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A little milk for poaching.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
poach
British English: poach VERB
If someone poaches fish, animals, or birds, they illegally catch them on someone else's property.
Many national parks are regularly invaded by people poaching game.
He didn't want anyone poaching on his territory.
American English: poach
Brazilian Portuguese: escaldar
Chinese: 非法盗猎
European Spanish: cazar/pescar furtivamente
French: braconner
German: wildern
Italian: cacciare {or} pescare di frodo
Japanese: 盗む
Korean: 도용하다
European Portuguese: escaldar
Latin American Spanish: cazar/pescar furtivamente
Chinese translation of 'poach'
poach
(pəutʃ)
vt
(= steal)[fish, animals, birds]偷猎(獵) (tōuliè)
[person]挖人 (wārén)
[idea]窃(竊)取 (qièqǔ)
(= cook)
[egg]水煮 (shuǐzhǔ)
[fish, chicken, fruit]炖(燉) (dùn)
vi
(= steal) 偷猎(獵) (tōuliè)
1 (verb)
Definition
to catch (game or fish) illegally on someone else's land
Many national parks are invaded by people poaching game.
Synonyms
steal
rob
A man who tried to rob a bank was sentenced yesterday.
plunder
a settlement to recover money plundered from government coffers
hunt or fish illegally
2 (verb)
Definition
to steal (an idea, employee, or player)
allegations that it had poached members from other unions
Synonyms
take
The burglars took just about anything they could carry.
steal
They solved the problem by stealing an idea from nature.
appropriate
What do they think about your appropriating their music and culture?
snatch (informal)
The robber snatched the bag and ran away.
nab (informal)
He stayed on the run for weeks before the authorities nabbed him.
purloin
He was caught purloining books from the library.
3 (verb)
Definition
to encroach on (someone's rights or duties)
rivals poaching on their territory
Synonyms
encroach on
appropriate
intrude on
trespass on
infringe (on)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appropriate
Definition
to take for one's own use without permission
What do they think about your appropriating their music and culture?
Synonyms
steal,
take,
nick (slang, British),
pocket,
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
pirate,
poach,
swipe (slang),
lift (informal),
knock off (slang),
heist (US, slang),
embezzle,
blag (slang),
pilfer,
misappropriate,
snitch (slang),
purloin,
filch,
plagiarize,
thieve,
peculate (literary)
in the sense of nab
Definition
to arrest (someone)
He stayed on the run for weeks before the authorities nabbed him.
Synonyms
catch,
arrest,
apprehend,
seize,
lift (slang),
nick (slang, British),
grab,
capture,
nail (informal),
collar (informal),
snatch,
catch in the act,
feel your collar (slang)
in the sense of plunder
Definition
to seize (valuables or goods) from (a place) by force, usually in wartime
a settlement to recover money plundered from government coffers
Synonyms
steal,
rob,
take,
nick (informal),
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
knock off (slang),
embezzle,
pilfer,
thieve
Nearby words of
poach
plutocrat
ply
po-faced
poach
pochard
pock
pocket
Synonyms of 'poach'
poach
Explore 'poach' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of purloin
Definition
to steal
He was caught purloining books from the library.
Synonyms
steal,
rob,
lift (informal),
nick (slang, British),
appropriate,
trouser (slang),
pinch (informal),
cabbage (British, slang),
swipe (slang),
knock off (slang),
blag (slang),
pilfer,
walk off with,
snitch (slang),
filch,
prig (British, slang),
snaffle (British, informal),
thieve
in the sense of rob
A man who tried to rob a bank was sentenced yesterday.