Touch Definition

tŭch

touched, touches, touching

verb

touched, touches, touching

To put the hand, the finger, or some other part of the body on, so as to feel; perceive by the sense of feeling.

Webster's New World

To be or come in contact.

Webster's New World

To bring into contact with something else.

To touch a match to kindling.

Webster's New World

To make contact with by means of something regarded as an extension of oneself.

To touch a snake with a stick, one's shoe, etc.

Webster's New World

To come near to something; verge (on or upon)

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
beg from
obtain from
get from
impress
affect
stir
move
strike
get
disturb
go over
treat
touch upon
touch on
extend to

Antonyms:

noun

touches

A touching or being touched.

Webster's New World

A light push; a tap.

An electric switch that requires just a touch.

American Heritage

An instance of contacting or propelling the ball or puck.

Scored on the first touch.

American Heritage

The sense by which physical objects are felt; tactile sense.

Webster's New World

A sensation caused by touching, esp. one that is characteristic of a particular substance or texture; tactile quality; feel.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
lot

idiom

in touch

Aware of the latest developments, as in current events or an area of interest.
Able to appreciate or understand the concerns or difficulties of others.

American Heritage

out of touch

Unaware of the latest developments, as in current events or an area of interest.
Unable to appreciate or understand the concerns or difficulties of others.

American Heritage

touch base

To renew a line of communication:

American Heritage

touch down

to land

Webster's New World

touch off

to represent accurately or aptly
to make explode or detonate; fire

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Touch

Noun

Singular:

touch

Plural:

touches

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Touch

Origin of Touch

From Middle English touchen, tochen, from Old French tochier ("to touch"; > Modern French toucher; compare French doublet toquer (“to offend, bother, harass")), from Vulgar Latin *toccāre (“to knock, strike, offend"), from Old Frankish *tokkōn, *tukkōn (“to knock, strike, touch"), from Proto-Germanic *tukkōnÄ…, *tukkijanÄ… (“to draw, jerk, knock, strike, offend"), from Proto-Indo-European *dukn-, *dewk- (“to draw, pull, lead"). Cognate with Old High German zochhōn, zuhhōn ("to grasp, take, seize, snatch"; > German zucken (“to jerk, flinch")), Low German tokken, tukken (“to fidget, twitch, pull up, entice"), Middle Dutch tocken, tucken ("to touch, entice"; > Dutch tokkelen (“to strum, pluck")), Old English tucian, tÅ«cian ("to disturb, mistreat, ill-treat; offend; afflict, harass, vex; punish, torment"; > English tuck). Compare also Old Frisian tetzia, tetsia (“to seize, appropriate to oneself"), Gothic 𐍄𐌴𐌺𐌰𐌽 (tekan, “to touch"), Old Norse taka (“to touch, grasp"), Middle Low German tacken (“to touch"), Old English tacan (“to touch, take"). Outside Germanic, cognate to Albanian cek (“to touch"). More at tuck, take.

From Wiktionary
Middle English touchen from Old French touchier ultimately from Vulgar Latin toccāre

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition