●enˈcroach on sth ( enˈcroach upon sth) (formal) 1.to use up too much of sb’s time, personal life, etc.; to begin to affect sb侵占（个人时间等）；打扰（正常生活等）◆She tried to prevent her work from encroaching too far on her private life. 她尽力避免工作过多影响她的私生活。SYNcut into sth (less formal), trespass on sth2.to gradually spread over more and more of an area逐渐遍布（某地区）◆New housing is starting to encroach upon the surrounding fields. 新住宅开始延伸到周围的田地。OBJterritory, land[v + prep]