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touch Definition

touch (tuc̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to put the hand, the finger, or some other part of the body on, so as to feel; perceive by the sense of feeling
  2. to bring into contact with something else to touch a match to kindling, to touch the ceiling with a stick
  3. Historical to lay the hand on (a person with scrofula), as some kings once did, supposedly to effect a cure
  4. to be or come into contact with
  5. to border on; adjoin
  6. to strike lightly
  7. to be effective on contact; have a physical effect on: usually used in the negative water won't touch these grease spots
  8. to injure slightly frost touched the plants
  9. to give a light tint, aspect, etc. to: used chiefly in the past participle clouds touched with pink
  10. to lay hands on; handle; use
  11. to handle roughly or molest
  12. to taste or partake of: usually used in the negative didn't touch his supper
  13. to come up to; reach; attain
  14. to compare with; equal; rival: usually used in the negative cooking that can't touch hers
  15. to take or make use of without permission or wrongly; misappropriate
  16. to deal with or refer to, esp. in a light or passing way; mention
  17. to have to do with; affect; concern a subject that touches our welfare
  18. to arouse an emotion in, esp. one of sympathy, gratitude, etc.
  19. to hurt the feelings of; pain touched him to the quick
  20. Slang to ask for, or get by asking, a loan or gift of money from
  21. Archaic
    1. to strike the keys of, pluck the strings of, etc. (a musical instrument)
    2. to play (a few notes, an air, etc.)
  22. Geom. to be tangent to

Etymology: ME touchen < OFr tochier (Fr toucher) < VL *toccare < *tok, light blow, of echoic orig.

intransitive verb

  1. to touch a person or thing
  2. to be or come in contact
  3. to come near to something; verge (on or upon)
  4. to pertain; bear (on or upon)
  5. to treat a topic slightly or in passing: with on or upon
  6. to stop briefly or land (at a port, etc.) during a voyage
  7. Geom. to be tangent

noun

  1. a touching or being touched; specif.,
    1. a light tap, stroke, etc.
    2. a delicate stroke made with a brush in painting, etc.
  2. the sense by which physical objects are felt; tactile sense
  3. a sensation caused by touching, esp. one that is characteristic of a particular substance or texture; tactile quality; feel
  4. a mental capacity analogous to the sense of touch; mental or moral sensitivity she has a nice touch with difficult people
  5. a special or characteristic quality, skill, or manner he lost his touch
  6. an effect of being touched; specif.,
    1. a mark, impression, etc. left by touching
    2. a subtle change or addition in a painting, story, or other work
  7. a very small amount, degree, etc.; specif.,
    1. a trace, tinge, etc. a touch of humor
    2. a slight attack a touch of the flu
  8. contact or communication to lose touch with reality, to keep in touch with friends
  9. Slang
    1. the act of asking for, or getting in this way, a loan or gift of money to make a touch
    2. money so gotten
    3. a person with reference to the ease with which money can be so gotten from him
  10. Music
    1. the manner in which a performer strikes the keys of a keyboard instrument a delicate touch
    2. the manner in which the action of a piano, etc. responds to the fingers a piano with a heavy touch
    3. in bell ringing, a set of changes less than a peal
  11. Rugby, Soccer the part of the field outside the sidelines

touch Related Forms
touch′·abil′·ity noun touch′·able adjective touch′er noun
touch Idioms

touch down

to land

touch off

  1. to represent accurately or aptly
  2. to make explode or detonate; fire
  3. to initiate (esp. a violent action or reaction); set off

touch up

  1. to stimulate or rouse, as by a tap or light blow
  2. to improve or finish (a painting, literary work, etc.) by minor changes or additions
  3. to iron, or press, lightly
touch Synonyms

touch

n.

  1. The tactile sense

    feeling, touching, feel, perception, tactility, taction.

  2. Contact

    rub, stroke, pat, petting, fondling, rubbing, stroking, licking, handling, graze, scratch, brush, taste, nudge, kiss, peck, embrace, hug, cuddling, caress.

  3. *The act of borrowing

    cadging, begging, mooching*; see loan.

  4. A sensation

    sense, impression, apprehension, impact, pressure; see also feeling 2.

  5. Skill

    knack*, technique*, finish; see ability 2, method 2, talent 1.

  6. A trace

    suggestion, scent, inkling; see bit 1.

in touch

in contact, attuned, acquainted, in close communication, within reach; see also familiar with, in contact with 2 at contact.

out of touch

  1. not in communication, estranged, out of reach.

  2. naive, inexperienced, uninformed;

touch Synonyms

touch

v.

  1. To be in contact

    stroke, graze, rub, pat, pet, nudge, thumb, finger, paw, lick, taste, brush, kiss, glance, sweep, caress, fondle, smooth, massage, sip, partake; see also feel 1.

  2. To come into contact with

    meet, encounter, arrive at, reach, get to, come to, attain, stop at, call at, visit.

    Antonyms pass*, miss*, avoid*. *

  3. To relate to

    involve, refer to, bear on, pertain to, regard, affect, belong to, be associated with, center upon; see also concern 1.

  4. To tinge

    tint, brush, retouch, taint, blemish, spot, color, stain.

  5. *To borrow from

    get from, obtain from, beg from; see borrow 1.

  6. To discuss

    touch on, touch upon, treat, go over; see discuss.

  7. To affect emotionally

    move, stir, affect, impress; see move 3. See syn. study at affect.

touch Usage Examples

Object

  • nerve: It was touching as few TV shows can be, in that it touched a nerve few would see as vulnerable.
  • ball: Every time he touched the ball he was booed - saying something considering his one of our own.

Converse of object

  • finish: Late on Sunday afternoon David Coleman puts the finishing touches to the pedestrian walkway across the newly installed turnout.
  • lose: Now 16, his only regret is that he lost touch with his friends from home.
  • add: Boys choir looking for trustees Bistro to add touch of class to.. .

Adjective modifier

  • finishing: The large blue Aga adds the finishing touch to the very contemporary look.
  • nice: A nice touch in this song is a very sixties style keyboard sound which, in style, is like The Doors.
  • deft: With a deft touch the PEBL U6 opens automatically to reveal an attractive keypad and large 262K color display.
  • gentle: A gentle touch on the sensitive touch-screen selection panel is all it takes for the sensors to translate your desires into perfectly brewed coffee.
  • soft: You will see that your bed has a thin sheet, with a very soft touch.
  • neat: They had a few fleeting opportunities and new signing Delroy Facey showed some neat touches early on.

Modifies a noun

  • screen: The touch screen Sudoku also has the option to.. .
  • pad: All the facilities can be controlled by a touch screen pad.
  • kiosk: Shortly after the self-financed company had been set up, work started on a bespoke in-store touch screen kiosk for the video rental company.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • upon: How the problems of copyright were to be overcome was only touched upon.

Preposition: of

  • button: DIY Gallery Roofing Metal roofing distributor who can ship nationwide is at the touch of a button.
  • elegance: Perfect for a vintage chic or shabby chic interior, this will add a real touch of elegance.
  • humor: Deliver Us From Evil is a good read, clever, brutal, with sly touches of dark humor.
  • luxury: Personal service and a determination to offer a touch of luxury for your special event are at the heart of what we offer.

Preposition: with

  • reality: Their endorsement ' feeds her ego and causes her to lose touch with reality ' .
touch Quotes

   He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small, That dares not put it to the touch, To gain or lose it all.

—Montrose,James Graham, 1st Marquis of

: Do not let him touch you! It is not true That drunken men cannot beget, And if he touch he must beget And you must bear his murderer. Deaf! Both deaf!

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

   Noli me tangere. Do not touch me. See Bible (NewTestament) 118:23.

—Bible (Vulgate)

The Big Bow-wow strain I can do myself like any now going; but the exquisite touch, which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting, from the truth of description and the sentiment, is denied to me.

—Scott, Sir Walter

Move him into the sunö Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields unsown.

—Owen,Wilfred

A babe, by intercourse of touch I held mute dialogues with my Mother's heart.

—Wordsworth,William

Do not all charms fly At the mere touch of cold philosophy? There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: We know her woof, her texture; she isgiven In the dull catalogue of common things. Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings.

—Keats,John

Thou art not, Penshurst, built to envious show Of touch or marble, nor canst boast a row Of polished pillars, or a roof of gold; Thou hast no lantern whereof tales are told, Or stair, or courts; but standst an ancient pile, And these grudged at, art reverenced the while.

—Jonson, Ben

O fat white woman whom nobody loves, Why do you walk through the fields in gloves, When the grass is soft as the breast of doves And shivering-sweet to the touch? Oh why do you walk through the fields in gloves, Missing so much and so much? See Chesterton 213:99.

—Cornford, Frances ne¤  e Darwin

Jesus saith unto her,Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.Jesus saith unto her,Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Le toucher est le plus de¤  mystificateur de tous les sens, a'   la diffe¤  rence de la vue, qui est le plus magique. Touch is the most demystifying of all senses, different from sight which is the most magical.

—Barthes, Roland

A slumber did my spirit seal; I had no human fears: She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthly years. No motion has she now, no force; She neither hears nor sees; Rolled round in earth's diurnal course With rocks, and stones and trees.

—Wordsworth,William

There is no event so commonplace but that God is present in it, alwayshiddenly, alwaysleaving you roomto recognize him or not to recognize him† Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the heavenlyand hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.

—Buechner, (Carl) Frederick