encroach upon
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encroach upon — verb to intrude upon, infringe, encroach on, violate (Freq. 1) This new colleague invades my territory The neighbors intrude on your privacy • Syn: ↑intrude on, ↑invade, ↑obtrude upon • Derivationally related forms: ↑ … Useful english 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 — [[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.… … English dictionary
encroach — Synonyms and related words: abuse a privilege, adopt, advance upon, appropriate, arrogate, assume, barge in, bother, break bounds, break in, break in upon, burst in, bust in, butt in, charge in, come between, crash, crash in, crash the gates,… … Moby Thesaurus
encroach — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. i. advance, infringe, usurp, invade, trespass, intrude, overstep, violate; make inroads. See illegality, overrunning. II (Roget s IV) v. Syn. infringe, trespass, invade, overstep; see meddle 1 . See… … English dictionary for students
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 [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 — [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 — ► 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 — 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
