ENCROACHING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does encroaching mean? 

• ENCROACHING (adjective)
  The adjective ENCROACHING has 1 sense:

1. gradually intrusive without right or permission

  Familiarity information: ENCROACHING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENCROACHING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Gradually intrusive without right or permission

Synonyms:

encroaching; invasive; trespassing

Context example:

trespassing hunters

Similar:

intrusive (tending to intrude (especially upon privacy))

 Context examples 

Tunicamycin works by forming holes in the cell walls of encroaching bacteria, causing them to burst open and die.

(Soil Bacterium Tapped for Penicillin Guard Duty, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good-will.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The study shows that 70 percent of existing forest lands are within a half-mile of forest edges, where encroaching urban, suburban and agricultural influences can cause harmful effects such as losses of plant and animal species.

(Shrinking habitats have adverse effects on world ecosystems, NSF)

I knew what all this meant, for the servants' dinner-bell was ringing at the very moment over our heads; and as I hate such encroaching people (the Jacksons are very encroaching, I have always said so: just the sort of people to get all they can), I said to the boy directly (a great lubberly fellow of ten years old, you know, who ought to be ashamed of himself), 'I'll take the boards to your father, Dick, so get you home again as fast as you can.' The boy looked very silly, and turned away without offering a word, for I believe I might speak pretty sharp; and I dare say it will cure him of coming marauding about the house for one while. I hate such greediness—so good as your father is to the family, employing the man all the year round!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) and University of South Carolina Beaufort, both in the United States, reported warming seas appear to decrease the efficacy of the chemical compounds that corals release into the water to defend themselves from bacteria and encroaching seaweed, but these losses may be mitigated if there are large numbers of hungry fish around.

(Voracious fish defend coral reefs against warming, Wikinews)