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⇱ encroach - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

encroach

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ɛnˈkroʊtʃ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(en krōch′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•croach /ɛnˈkroʊtʃ/USA pronunciation   v. [~ + on/upon + object]
  1. to intrude upon the property or rights of another, esp. gradually or secretly:Wiretapping encroaches on our right to privacy.
en•croach•ment, n. [uncountable* countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•croach  (en krōch′),USA pronunciation v.i. 
  1. to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits;
    make gradual inroads:A dictatorship of the majority is encroaching on the rights of the individual.
  2. to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, esp. stealthily or by gradual advances.
  • Gmc; see crooked, crook
  • Anglo-French encrocher, Old French encrochier to catch hold of, seize, equivalent. to en- en-1 + -crochier, verb, verbal derivative of croc hook
  • Middle English encrochen 1275–1325
en•croach′er, n. 
    1. 2. See trespass. 
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
encroach /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ/ vb (intransitive)
  1. often followed by on or upon: to intrude gradually, stealthily, or insidiously upon the rights, property, etc, of another
  2. to advance beyond the usual or proper limits
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French encrochier to seize, literally: fasten upon with hooks, from en-1 + croc hook, of Germanic origin; see crookenˈcroacher n enˈcroachment n
'encroach' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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