Definition of "poach"

poach¹

/ˈpoʊt͡ʃ/

verb
third-person singular simple present poaches, present participle poaching, simple past and past participle poached
1. (transitive) To cook (something) in simmering or very hot liquid (usually water; sometimes wine, broth, or otherwise).
  Quotations
  Eldridge closed the despatch-case with a snap and, rising briskly, walked down the corridor to his solitary table in the dining-car. Mulligatawny soup, poached turbot, roast leg of lamb—the usual railway dinner.
  1931, Francis Beeding, “1/1”, in Death Walks in Eastrepps‎
2. (intransitive) To be cooked in such manner.
  Quotations
  The white of an egg with spirit of wine, doth bake the egg into clots, as if it began to poach.
  1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […]
noun
plural poaches
1. The act of cooking in simmering liquid.
  Quotations
  Peaches are so perfect they need very little to make them extra special—just a quick poach in basil-scented rosé wine and a few adoring strawberries.
  2005, Jill Dupleix, Good Cooking: The New Basics, page 152

poach²

/ˈpoʊt͡ʃ/

verb
third-person singular simple present poaches, present participle poaching, simple past and past participle poached
1. (transitive, intransitive) To trespass on another's property to take fish or game.
2. (transitive, intransitive) To take game or fish illegally.
  Quotations
  A 2016 study using carbon dating of more than 200 tusks from seizures spanning nine countries suggested that illegal ivory originates from elephants poached recently, instead of being pilfered from aging stockpiles kept by various nations.
  2021 November 12, Christine Chung, “2 Ivory Smugglers Captured in International Operation, U.S. Says”, in The New York Times‎
3. (by extension, transitive, intransitive) To take anything illegally or unfairly.
  Quotations
  Chelsea's embarrassment was symbolised by Ross Barkley's inexplicable header straight to the feet of Aguero to poach his second and Ilkay Gundogan capped that early blitz with a low drive.
  2023 February 10, Phil McNulty, “Manchester City 6-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport‎
4. (figurative) To intrude; to interfere; to get involved inappropriately, without welcome.
5. (business, transitive, intransitive) To entice (an employee or customer) to switch from a competing company to one's own.
  Quotations
  EBay has accused three Amazon managers of illegally conspiring to poach its sellers, escalating a monthslong feud between two of the country’s largest e-commerce companies.
  2019 August 1, Karen Weise, “EBay Accuses Amazon Managers of Conspiring to Poach Its Sellers”, in The New York Times‎
6. To make soft or muddy by trampling.
  Quotations
  the poach'd filth that floods the middle street
  1859, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page)”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […]
7. To become soft or muddy by being trampled on.
  Quotations
  Chalky and clay lands […] chap in summer, and poach in winter.
  1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], published 1708
8. (obsolete) To stab; to pierce; to spear or drive or plunge into something.
  Quotations
  They vse alſo to poche them with an instrument somewhat like the Sammon-speare
  1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall. […], new edition, London: […] B. Law, […]; Penzance, Cornwall: J. Hewett, published 1769
  his horse poching one of his legs into some hollow ground
  1673, William Temple, Observations upon the United Provinces
  Mutt Malvern stands with a wicked blade in one hand and, in the other, a three-pronged leister spear of the sort used to poach fish or birds.
  2011, Maggie Stiefvater, The Scorpio Races
noun
plural poaches
1. The act of taking something unfairly, as in tennis doubles where one player returns a shot that their partner was better placed to return.

Definition of "poach"

poach1

verb

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noun

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poach2

verb

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noun

poach¹

poach²