touch
[ tuhch ]
/ tʌtʃ /
verb (used with object)
to put the hand, finger, etc., on or into contact with (something) to feel it: He touched the iron cautiously.
to come into contact with and perceive (something), as the hand or the like does.
to bring (the hand, finger, etc., or something held) into contact with something: She touched a match to the papers.
to give a slight tap or pat to with the hand, finger, etc.; strike or hit gently or lightly.
to come into or be in contact with.
Geometry.
(of a line or surface) to be tangent to.
to be adjacent to or border on.
to come up to; reach; attain.
to attain equality with; compare with (usually used with a negative): a style that cannot touch that of Shakespeare.
to mark by strokes of the brush, pencil, or the like.
to mark or relieve slightly, as with color: a gray dress touched with blue.
to stop at (a place), as a ship: The ship touched shore several times during the cruise.
to treat or affect in some way by contact.
to affect as if by contact; tinge; imbue.
to affect with some feeling or emotion, especially tenderness, pity, gratitude, etc.: Their sufferings touched his heart.
to handle, use, or have to do with in any way (usually used with a negative): She can't touch the money until she's 21.
to eat or drink; consume; taste (usually used with a negative): He won't touch another drink.
to lay hands on, often in a violent manner: Don't you touch this child!
to deal with or treat in speech or writing.
to refer or allude to.
to pertain or relate to: a critic in all matters touching the kitchen.
to be a matter of importance to; make a difference to; affect: This grave decision touches all of us.
Metallurgy.
to stamp (metal) as being of standard purity.
Slang.
to apply to for money, or succeed in getting money from: He touched me for five dollars.
Slang.
to steal from.
Archaic.
- to strike the strings, keys, etc., of (a musical instrument) so as to cause it to sound.
- to play or perform (an air, notes, etc.) on a musical instrument.
verb (used without object)
to place the hand, finger, etc., on or in contact with something.
to come into or be in contact.
to make a stop or a short call at a place, as a ship or those on board (usually followed by at).
noun
the act or state of touching; state or fact of being touched.
that sense by which anything material is perceived by means of physical contact.
the quality of something touched that imparts a sensation: an object with a slimy touch.
a coming into or being in contact.
mental or moral perception, sensitivity, or understanding: He has a marvelous touch in dealing with people.
ability, skill, or dexterity; knack: to lose one's touch.
Fencing.
the contact of the point of a foil or épée or the point or edge of the blade of a saber with a specified portion of the opponent's body, counting one point for the scorer.
close communication, agreement, sympathy, or the like: to be out of touch with reality; Let's keep in touch.
a slight stroke or blow.
a slight attack, as of illness or disease: a touch of rheumatism.
a slight added action or effort in doing or completing any piece of work: to provide the finishing touches.
manner of execution in artistic work.
the act or manner of touching or fingering a keyboard instrument.
the mode of action of the keys of an instrument, as of a piano or typewriter.
Change Ringing.
a partial series of changes on a peal of bells.
a stroke or dash, as with a brush, pencil, or pen.
a detail in any artistic work.
a slight amount of some quality, attribute, etc.: a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
a slight quantity or degree: a touch of salt.
a distinguishing characteristic or trait: the touch of the master.
quality or kind in general.
an act of testing something.
something that serves as a test; touchstone.
Slang.
- the act of approaching someone for money as a gift or a loan.
- the obtaining of money in this manner.
- the money obtained.
- a person considered from the standpoint of the relative ease with which he or she will lend money: I can always hit him for ten—he's an easy touch.
Slang.
theft.
Metallurgy.
- an official mark put upon precious metal after testing to indicate its purity.
- a die, stamp, or the like for impressing such a mark.
- an identifying mark impressed on pewter by its maker.
Soccer.
the area outside the touchlines.
Rugby.
either of the touchlines or the area outside of the touchlines.
Verb Phrases
touch down,
(of an airplane) to come into contact with the ground; land.
touch off,
- to represent or characterize precisely.
- to cause to ignite or explode.
- to give rise to; initiate: This incident will touch off another crisis.
touch on/upon,
- to mention a subject briefly or casually; treat of in passing: In his lecture he touched on the major aspects of the controversy.
- to come close to; approach.
- to relate or pertain to.
touch up,
- to make minor changes or improvements in the appearance of.
- to modify or improve (a painting, photograph, etc.) by adding small strokes or making slight changes.
- to rouse by or as if by striking: This should touch up your memory.
Idioms for touch
put the touch on, Informal.
to try to borrow money from: Willie put the touch on me for another ten last night.
touch base with.
base1(def 36).
Origin of touch
1250–1300; (v.) Middle English
to(u)chen < Old French
tochier < Vulgar Latin
*toccāre to knock, strike, touch, of expressive orig.; (noun) partly continuing Middle English
touche state or act of touching < Old French, derivative of
tochier, partly derivative of the v.
OTHER WORDS FROM touch
touch·a·ble, adjective
touch·a·ble·ness, touch·a·bil·i·ty, noun
touch·er, noun
touch·less, adjective
in·ter·touch, verb (used without object)
Words nearby touch
tottie,
totting,
totty,
toucan,
toucanet,
touch,
touch and go,
touch base with,
touch bottom,
touch down,
touch football
Example sentences from the Web for touch
Set a heatproof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water, making sure that the bowl does not touch the surface of the water.
Every time they seemed to be getting closer to something they had never been able to touch before.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs |Allen Barra |November 17, 2014 |DAILY BEASTAnd ironically, he has also brought Mandvi more in touch with being a Muslim.
How Aasif Mandvi Became Jon Stewart’s Favorite Jihadi |Dean Obeidallah |November 16, 2014 |DAILY BEASTThat means Japanese whiskies are beautifully balanced and elegant; they touch and develop on every sensor on the palate.
But surprisingly over the eight years of working on the show I became more in touch on some level with being culturally Muslim.
How Aasif Mandvi Became Jon Stewart’s Favorite Jihadi |Dean Obeidallah |November 16, 2014 |DAILY BEASTAs, however, the whole plan of our proceedings was to be kept secret, I will not touch on that subject.
A Voyage round the World |W.H.G. KingstonOurdays always wound up with an extra good dinner, and a touch of gala costume in honor of the occasion.
Marjorie's Busy Days |Carolyn WellsThereby had she been enabled to say, 'He will come'; and saying, 'He has come,' her touch rested on the first knot in the string.
The Short Works of George Meredith |George MeredithAt the end of some days disturbed by the silence of the King, she ventured to touch upon the subject.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete |Duc de Saint-SimonThere was in them a touch of the genuine unworldly simplicity which forms part of your character.
Charlotte Bront |T. Wemyss Reid
British Dictionary definitions for touch
touch
/ (tʌtʃ) /
noun
the sense by which the texture and other qualities of objects can be experienced when they come in contact with a part of the body surface, esp the tips of the fingers
Related adjectives: haptic, tactile, tactual
the quality of an object as perceived by this sense; feel; feeling
the act or an instance of something coming into contact with the body
a gentle push, tap, or caress
a small amount; hint
a touch of sarcasm
a noticeable effect; influence
the house needed a woman's touch
any slight stroke or mark
with a touch of his brush he captured the scene
characteristic manner or style
the artist had a distinctive touch
a detail of some work, esp a literary or artistic work
she added a few finishing touches to the book
a slight attack, as of a disease
a touch of bronchitis
a specific ability or facility
the champion appeared to have lost his touch
the state of being aware of a situation or in contact with someone
to get in touch with someone
the state of being in physical contact
a trial or test (esp in the phrase put to the touch)
rugby soccer
the area outside the touchlines, beyond which the ball is out of play (esp in the phrase in touch)
archaic
- an official stamp on metal indicating standard purity
- the die stamp used to apply this markNow usually called: hallmark
a scoring hit in competitive fencing
an estimate of the amount of gold in an alloy as obtained by use of a touchstone
the technique of fingering a keyboard instrument
the quality of the action of a keyboard instrument with regard to the relative ease with which the keys may be depressed
this piano has a nice touch
bell-ringing
any series of changes where the permutations are fewer in number than for a peal
slang
- the act of asking for money as a loan or gift, often by devious means
- the money received in this way
- a person asked for money in this wayhe was an easy touch
verb
(tr)
to cause or permit a part of the body to come into contact with
(tr)
to tap, feel, or strike, esp with the hand
don't touch the cake!
to come or cause (something) to come into contact with (something else)
their hands touched briefly; he touched the match to the fuse
(intr)
to be in contact
(tr; usually used with a negative)
to take hold of (a person or thing), esp in violence
don't touch the baby!
to be adjacent to (each other)
the two properties touch
(tr)
to move or disturb by handling
someone's touched my desk
(tr)
to have an effect on
the war scarcely touched our town
(tr)
to produce an emotional response in
his sad story touched her
(tr)
to affect; concern
(tr; usually used with a negative)
to partake of, eat, or drink
(tr; usually used with a negative)
to handle or deal with
I wouldn't touch that business
(when intr, often foll by on)
to allude (to) briefly or in passing
the speech touched on several subjects
(tr)
to tinge or tint slightly
brown hair touched with gold
(tr)
to spoil or injure slightly
blackfly touched the flowers
(tr)
to mark, as with a brush or pen
(tr)
to compare to in quality or attainment; equal or match
there's no-one to touch him
(tr)
to reach or attain
he touched the high point in his career
(intr)
to dock or stop briefly
the ship touches at Tenerife
(tr) slang
to ask for a loan or gift of money from
rare
- to finger (the keys or strings of an instrument)
- to play (a tune, piece of music, etc) in this way
Derived forms of touch
touchable, adjective touchableness, noun toucher, noun touchless, adjectiveWord Origin for touch
C13: from Old French
tochier, from Vulgar Latin
toccāre (unattested) to strike, ring (a bell), probably imitative of a tapping sound
Medical definitions for touch
touch
[ tŭch ]
n.
The physiological sense by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body.
Digital examination.
Other words from touch
touch•a•ble adj.Idioms and Phrases with touch
touch
In addition to the idioms beginning with touch
- touch and go
- touch base with
- touch bottom
- touch down
- touched by, be
- touched in the head
- touch off
- touch on
- touch up
also see:
- common touch
- finishing touch
- hit (touch) bottom
- in touch
- lose one's touch
- lose touch
- not touch with a ten-foot pole
- out of touch
- put the arm (touch) on
- soft touch