poached; poaching; poaches
: to cook in simmering liquid
poached; poaching; poaches
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
1
: to trespass on
a field poached too frequently by the amateur—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
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
Examples of poach in a Sentence
Verb (1)
poaching fish in a stock flavored with white wine
Recent Examples on the Web
Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
Thieves poached about 100,000 eggs from the back of a distribution trailer, authorities in Pennsylvania said.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2025
For the second time in a week, the Bucs thwarted an attempt by Coen to poach a member of their coaching staff.
—Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2025
The situation had become a national crisis by 2012, when 425 of the park’s rhinos were poached, their horns chopped off and the carcasses left to rot.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
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Verb
The case was submitted to the Modoc County District Attorney’s Office, which initiated the prosecution of Davis for poaching crimes, the release said.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
Thieves poached about 100,000 eggs from the back of a distribution trailer, authorities in Pennsylvania said.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2025
For the second time in a week, the Bucs thwarted an attempt by Coen to poach a member of their coaching staff.
—Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2025
The situation had become a national crisis by 2012, when 425 of the park’s rhinos were poached, their horns chopped off and the carcasses left to rot.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poach
Cite this Entry
“Poach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poach. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poach
1 of 2 verb
: 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"
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