poach

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈpōch 

poached; poaching; poaches

transitive verb

: to cook in simmering liquid

poach

2 of 2

verb (2)

poached; poaching; poaches

intransitive verb

1

: to encroach upon especially for the purpose of taking something

2

: to trespass for the purpose of stealing game

also : to take game or fish illegally

transitive verb

1

: to trespass on

a field poached too frequently by the amateur

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

a

: to take (game or fish) by illegal methods

b

: to appropriate (something) as one's own

c

: to attract (someone, such as an employee or customer) away from a competitor

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• boil
• coddle
• parboil
• simmer
• stew

Examples of poach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

All callers can remain anonymous, and anyone who provides information that leads to a citation in the poaching case will be eligible to receive a cash reward. —Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 12 Apr. 2024

The Korean carmaker famously poached BMW’s M division boss Albert Biermann in a bid to elevate the brand’s performance. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

There are many other ways to make meat succulent — poaching it as in Hainanese chicken or braising it as in Indian curries — but browning isn’t one of them. —Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Earlier this year Germany’s environment ministry, which is headed up by Steffi Lemke of the Green party, raised the possibility of stricter limits on the import of hunting trophies due to poaching concerns. —Nadine Schmidt, Sarah Dean and Ingrid Formanek, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024

But the conservationists are not hopeful to the threat of poaching being eliminated completely. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024

Though somewhat overshadowed by Saturday Night Live — which poached several SCTV cast members over the years — the series attracted a devoted audience and became a comedy classic. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024

Now, its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly trying to poach researchers from Google’s DeepMind division to work on Meta’s AI efforts. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024

The bears are also poached for parts—their gallbladders contain bile used in traditional Chinese medicine, and their paws are a culinary delicacy—and they are even captured for the exotic pet trade. —Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English pocchen, from Middle French pocher, from Old French poché poached, literally, bagged, from poche bag, pocket — more at pouch

Verb (2)

Middle French pocher, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle English poken to poke

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing poach

• poach on someone's territory/turf

Kids Definition

poach

1 of 2 verb

ˈpōch 

: to cook in simmering liquid

poached eggs

poach

2 of 2 verb

: to hunt or fish unlawfully

poacher noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English pochen "to boil an egg without its shell so that the white covers the yolk like a bag," from early French pocher (same meaning), from earlier pochier, literally, "to put into a bag," from poche "bag, pocket"

Verb

from early French pocher "to hunt or fish unlawfully"