Meaning & use
poach
To illegally hunt or catch animals, usually on someone else's land or in a protected area.
See it in a sentence
Rangers patrol the reserve at night to stop hunters who try to poach elephants for ivory.
Local farmers reported that someone had been poaching fish from the private lake.
A note on using this word
Poach also means to cook food gently in simmering liquid, or to lure an employee or player away from a rival organization.
Words with a similar meaning
hunt illegally
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To cook food, especially an egg or fish, gently in barely simmering water or other liquid.
She poached two eggs for breakfast and served them over toast.
Make it your own
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