encroach

encroach
[[t]ɪnkro͟ʊtʃ[/t]]
encroaches, encroaching, encroached
1) VERB (disapproval) If one thing encroaches on another, the first thing spreads or becomes stronger, and slowly begins to restrict the power, range, or effectiveness of the second thing. [FORMAL]

[V on/upon n] Any attempt to encroach upon presidential prerogatives in this domain was quickly and firmly resisted...

[V on/upon n] The new institutions do not encroach on political power...

[V-ing] For some time the movie industry had loftily chosen to ignore the encroaching competition of television. [Also V]

2) VERB If something encroaches on a place, it spreads and takes over more and more of that place. [FORMAL]

[V on n] The rhododendrons encroached ever more on the twisting drive...

[V-ing] I turned into the dirt road and followed it through encroaching trees and bushes. [Also V prep/adv, V]


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • encroach — en·croach /in krōch/ vi [Anglo French encrocher, probably alteration of acrocher to catch hold of, seize, usurp, from Old French, from a , prefix stressing goal + croc hook]: to enter esp. gradually or stealthily into the possessions or rights of …   Law dictionary

  • Encroach — En*croach , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Encroached}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Encroaching}.] [OF. encrochier to perch, prop., to hook, fasten a hook (perh. confused with acrochier, F. accrocher, to hook, get hold of, E. accroach); pref. en (L. in) + F. croc… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • encroach — en‧croach [ɪnˈkrəʊtʆ ǁ ˈkroʊtʆ] verb encroach on/​upon something phrasal verb [transitive] to gradually take more control of someone s rights, property, responsibility etc than you should: • Bureaucratic power has encroached upon the freedom of… …   Financial and business terms

  • encroach — ► VERB 1) (encroach on/upon) gradually intrude on (a person s territory, rights, etc.). 2) advance gradually beyond expected or acceptable limits: the sea has encroached all round the coast. DERIVATIVES encroachment noun. ORIGIN Old French… …   English terms dictionary

  • Encroach — En*croach , n. Encroachment. [Obs.] South. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • encroach — early 14c., acquire, get, from O.Fr. encrochier seize, fasten on, hang on (to), cling (to); hang up, suspend, lit. to catch with a hook, from en in (see EN (Cf. en ) (1)) + croc hook, from O.N. krokr hook (see CROOK (Cf. crook)). Me …   Etymology dictionary

  • encroach — *trespass, entrench, infringe, invade Analogous words: *enter, penetrate, pierce, probe: intrude, butt in, obtrude, interlope: interfere, intervene, interpose …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • encroach — [v] invade another’s property, business appropriate, arrogate, barge in*, butt in*, crash, elbow in*, entrench, horn in*, impinge, infringe, interfere, interpose, intervene, intrude, make inroads*, meddle, muscle in*, overstep, put two cents in* …   New thesaurus

  • encroach — [en krōch′, inkrōch′] vi. [ME encrochen < OFr encrochier, to seize upon, take < en , in + croc, croche, a hook: see CROSIER] 1. to trespass or intrude (on or upon the rights, property, etc. of another), esp. in a gradual or sneaking way 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • encroach — UK [ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ] / US [ɪnˈkroʊtʃ] verb [intransitive] Word forms encroach : present tense I/you/we/they encroach he/she/it encroaches present participle encroaching past tense encroached past participle encroached 1) to gradually take something… …   English dictionary

  • encroach — v. (d; intr.) to encroach on, upon (to encroach on smb. s territory) * * * [ɪn krəʊtʃ] upon (to encroach on smb. s territory) (d; intr.) to encroach on …   Combinatory dictionary

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