3 VERB If someone poaches an idea, they dishonestly or illegally use the idea. □ [V n] The opposition parties complained that the government had poached their ideas.
4 VERB When you poach an egg, you cook it gently in boiling water without its shell. □ [V n] Poach the eggs for 4 minutes. □ [V -ed] He had a light breakfast of poached eggs and tea.
5 VERB If you poach food such as fish, you cook it gently in boiling water, milk, or other liquid. □ [V n] Poach the chicken until just cooked. □ [V -ed] …a pear poached in syrup. ● poach|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ You will need a pot of broth for poaching.
PO Box /piː oʊ bɒks/ also P.O. Box PO Box is used before a number as a kind of address. The Post Office keeps letters addressed to the PO Box until they are collected by the person who has paid for the service.
pocked /pɒ kt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Pocked means the same as pockmarked . □ [+ with ] …a bus pocked with bullet holes.
pock|et ◆◇◇ /pɒ k I t/ (pockets , pocketing , pocketed )
1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N , n N ] A pocket is a kind of small bag which forms part of a piece of clothing, and which is used for carrying small things such as money or a handkerchief. □ He took his flashlight from his jacket pocket and switched it on. □ The man stood with his hands in his pockets.
2 N‑COUNT You can use pocket in a lot of different ways to refer to money that people have, get, or spend. For example, if someone gives or pays a lot of money, you can say that they dig deep into their pocket . If you approve of something because it is very cheap to buy, you can say that it suits people's pockets . □ …ladies' fashions to suit all shapes, sizes and pockets.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use pocket to describe something that is small enough to fit into a pocket, often something that is a smaller version of a larger item. □ …a pocket calculator. □ …my pocket edition of the Collins Spanish Dictionary.
4 N‑COUNT A pocket of something is a small area where something is happening, or a small area which has a particular quality, and which is different from the other areas around it. □ He survived the earthquake after spending 3 days in an air pocket. □ [+ of ] The army controls the city apart from a few pockets of resistance.
5 VERB If someone who is in possession of something valuable such as a sum of money pockets it, they steal it or take it for themselves, even though it does not belong to them. □ [V n] Dishonest importers would be able to pocket the VAT collected from customers.
6 VERB If you say that someone pockets something such as a prize or sum of money, you mean that they win or obtain it, often without needing to make much effort or in a way that seems unfair. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] He pocketed more money from this tournament than in his entire three years as a professional.
7 VERB If someone pockets something, they put it in their pocket, for example because they want to steal it or hide it. □ [V n] Anthony snatched his letters and pocketed them.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone is in someone else's pocket , you disapprove of the fact that the first person is willing to do whatever the second person tells them, for example out of weakness or in return for money. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The board of directors must surely have been in Johnstone's pocket.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone is lining their own or someone else's pockets , you disapprove of them because they are making money dishonestly or unfairly. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is estimated that 5,000 bank staff could be lining their own pockets from customer accounts.
10 PHRASE If you are out of pocket , you have less money than you should have or than you intended, for example because you have spent too much or because of a mistake. □ Card fraud causes huge inconvenience and the experience can often leave you out of pocket.
11 → see also out-of-pocket
12 PHRASE If someone picks your pocket , they steal something from your pocket, usually without you noticing. □ They were more in danger of having their pockets picked than being shot at.
pocket|book /pɒ k I tbʊk/ (pocketbooks )
1 N‑COUNT You can use pocketbook to refer to people's concerns about the money they have or hope to earn. [AM , JOURNALISM ] □ People feel pinched in their pocketbooks and insecure about their futures.
2 N‑COUNT A pocketbook is a small bag which a woman uses to carry things such as her money and keys in when she goes out. [AM ] in BRIT, use handbag , bag 3 N‑COUNT A pocketbook is a small flat folded case, usually made of leather or plastic, where you can keep banknotes and credit cards. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use wallet
po ck|et knife (pocket knives ) also pocketknife N‑COUNT A pocket knife is a small knife with several blades which fold into the handle so that you can carry it around with you safely.
po ck|et mon|ey also pocket-money N‑UNCOUNT Pocket money is money which children are given by their parents, usually every week. [mainly BRIT ] □ We agreed to give her £6 a week pocket money. in AM, usually use allowance
po cket-sized also pocket-size ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as pocket-sized , you approve of it because it is small enough to fit in your pocket. [APPROVAL ] □ …a handy pocket-sized reference book.