Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

retouch

 - 3 dictionary results

re⋅touch

[v. ree-tuhch; n. ree-tuhch, ree-tuhch]
–verb (used with object)
1. to improve with new touches, highlights, or the like; touch up or rework, as a painting or makeup.
2. Photography. to alter (a negative or positive) after development by adding or removing lines, lightening areas, etc., with a pencil, brush, or knife.
3. to dye, tint, or bleach (a new growth of hair) to match or blend with the color of an earlier and previously dyed growth.
–noun
4. an added touch to a picture, painting, paint job, etc., by way of improvement or alteration.
5. an act or instance of dyeing new growth of hair to blend with previously dyed hair.

Origin:
1675–85; < MF retoucher, equiv. to re- re- + toucher to touch


re⋅touch⋅a⋅ble, adjective
re⋅touch⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To retouch
re·touch   (rē-tŭch')   
v.   re·touched, re·touch·ing, re·touch·es

v.   tr.
  1. To add new details or touches to for correction or improvement.

  2. To improve or change (a photographic negative or print), as by adding details or removing flaws.

  3. To color (recent growth of hair) to match hair that was tinted, dyed, or bleached at an earlier date.

  4. Archaeology To modify (a flaked stone tool) by secondary flaking along the cutting edge.

v.   intr.
To give or make retouches.
n.   (rē'tŭch', rē-tŭch')
The act, process, or an instance of retouching.
re·touch'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

retouch 
1650, from Fr. retoucher (13c.) "to touch again" (with a view to improving)," from re- "again" + toucher (see touch).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see retouch on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: