verb

poach

POHCH

verb

To cook something gently in barely simmering liquid, usually water.

"She poached the eggs for exactly three minutes."

"You can poach chicken breasts in stock for a moist result."

To illegally hunt or catch animals on someone else's land or in a protected area.

"Rangers arrested two men caught poaching elephants for their tusks."

To lure an employee, client, or idea away from a competitor.

"The rival firm poached their best engineer with a huge salary offer."

How to Use Poach

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo cook gently in liquid, to hunt illegally, or to steal a person, client, or idea from a rival.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "pouch" (a small bag) — they sound different but are sometimes misspelled the same way.

Common pairings

poach an egg poach wildlife poach staff

poached past tense, poached past tense, poaches plural, poaches plural, poaches singular, poaches singular

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Test yourself on “poach” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the eggs for exactly three minutes.

From Old French pocher, "to put in a pocket" — the poached egg is thought of as tucked in a little pocket formed by its own white.

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