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touch - 13 dictionary results
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touch

  [tuhch] ,
Use touch in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to put the hand, finger, etc., on or into contact with (something) to feel it: He touched the iron cautiously.
2. to come into contact with and perceive (something), as the hand or the like does.
3. to bring (the hand, finger, etc., or something held) into contact with something: She touched a match to the papers.
4. to give a slight tap or pat to with the hand, finger, etc.; strike or hit gently or lightly.
5. to come into or be in contact with.
6. Geometry. (of a line or surface) to be tangent to.
7. to be adjacent to or border on.
8. to come up to; reach; attain.
9. to attain equality with; compare with (usually used with a negative): a style that cannot touch that of Shakespeare.
10. to mark by strokes of the brush, pencil, or the like.
11. to mark or relieve slightly, as with color: a gray dress touched with blue.
12. to stop at (a place), as a ship: The ship touched shore several times during the cruise.
13. to treat or affect in some way by contact.
14. to affect as if by contact; tinge; imbue.
15. to affect with some feeling or emotion, esp. tenderness, pity, gratitude, etc.: Their sufferings touched his heart.
16. 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.
17. to eat or drink; consume; taste (usually used with a negative): He won't touch another drink.
18. to lay hands on, often in a violent manner: Don't you touch this child!
19. to deal with or treat in speech or writing.
20. to refer or allude to.
21. to pertain or relate to: a critic in all matters touching the kitchen.
22. to be a matter of importance to; make a difference to; affect: This grave decision touches all of us.
23. Metallurgy. to stamp (metal) as being of standard purity.
24. Slang. to apply to for money, or succeed in getting money from: He touched me for five dollars.
25. Slang. to steal from.
26. Archaic.
a. to strike the strings, keys, etc., of (a musical instrument) so as to cause it to sound.
b. to play or perform (an air, notes, etc.) on a musical instrument.
–verb (used without object)
27. to place the hand, finger, etc., on or in contact with something.
28. to come into or be in contact.
29. to make a stop or a short call at a place, as a ship or those on board (usually fol. by at).
–noun
30. the act or state of touching; state or fact of being touched.
31. that sense by which anything material is perceived by means of physical contact.
32. the quality of something touched that imparts a sensation: an object with a slimy touch.
33. a coming into or being in contact.
34. mental or moral perception, sensitivity, or understanding: He has a marvelous touch in dealing with people.
35. ability, skill, or dexterity; knack: to lose one's touch.
36. 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.
37. close communication, agreement, sympathy, or the like: to be out of touch with reality; Let's keep in touch.
38. a slight stroke or blow.
39. a slight attack, as of illness or disease: a touch of rheumatism.
40. a slight added action or effort in doing or completing any piece of work: to provide the finishing touches.
41. manner of execution in artistic work.
42. the act or manner of touching or fingering a keyboard instrument.
43. the mode of action of the keys of an instrument, as of a piano or typewriter.
44. Change Ringing. a partial series of changes on a peal of bells.
45. a stroke or dash, as with a brush, pencil, or pen.
46. a detail in any artistic work.
47. a slight amount of some quality, attribute, etc.: a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
48. a slight quantity or degree: a touch of salt.
49. a distinguishing characteristic or trait: the touch of the master.
50. quality or kind in general.
51. an act of testing something.
52. something that serves as a test; touchstone.
53. Slang.
a. the act of approaching someone for money as a gift or a loan.
b. the obtaining of money in this manner.
c. the money obtained.
d. 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.
54. Slang. theft.
55. Metallurgy.
a. an official mark put upon precious metal after testing to indicate its purity.
b. a die, stamp, or the like for impressing such a mark.
c. an identifying mark impressed on pewter by its maker.
56. Soccer. the area outside the touchlines.
57. Rugby. either of the touchlines or the area outside of the touchlines.
—Verb phrases
58. touch down, (of an airplane) to come into contact with the ground; land.
59. touch off,
a. to represent or characterize precisely.
b. to cause to ignite or explode.
c. to give rise to; initiate: This incident will touch off another crisis.
60. touch on or upon,
a. to mention a subject briefly or casually; treat of in passing: In his lecture he touched on the major aspects of the controversy.
b. to come close to; approach.
c. to relate or pertain to.
61. touch up,
a. to make minor changes or improvements in the appearance of.
b. to modify or improve (a painting, photograph, etc.) by adding small strokes or making slight changes.
c. to rouse by or as if by striking: This should touch up your memory.
—Idioms
62. put the touch on, Informal. to try to borrow money from: Willie put the touch on me for another ten last night.
63. touch base with. base 1 (def. 36).
Origin:
1250–1300; (v.) ME to(u)chen < OF tochier < VL *toccāre to knock, strike, touch, of expressive orig.; (n.) partly continuing ME touche state or act of touching < OF, deriv. of tochier, partly deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
touch⋅a⋅ble, adjective
touch⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, touch⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
toucher, noun
touchless, adjective

Synonyms:
1. handle, feel. 13. impress. 15. move, strike, stir, melt, soften. 21. concern, regard, affect. 38. pat, tap. 48. hint, trace, suggestion.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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touch   (tŭch)   
v.   touched, touch·ing, touch·es

v.   tr.
  1. To cause or permit a part of the body, especially the hand or fingers, to come in contact with so as to feel: reached out and touched the smooth stone.
    1. To bring something into light contact with: touched the sore spot with a probe.
    2. To bring (one thing) into light contact with something else: grounded the radio by touching a wire to it; touching fire to a fuse.
    3. To meet without going beyond; adjoin: the ridge where his property touches mine.
    4. Mathematics To be tangent to.
    5. To come up to; reach: when the thermometer touches 90°.
    6. To match in quality; equal: Rival artists can't touch her work at its best.
    7. To draw with light strokes.
    8. To change or improve by adding fine lines or strokes.
    9. Archaic To strike or pluck the keys or strings of (a musical instrument).
    10. To play (a musical piece).
  3. To press or push lightly; tap: touched a control to improve the TV picture; touched 19 on the phone to get room service.
  4. To lay hands on in violence: I never touched him!
  5. To eat or drink; taste: She didn't touch her food.
  6. To disturb or move by handling: Just don't touch anything in my room!
    1. To meet without going beyond; adjoin: the ridge where his property touches mine.
    2. Mathematics To be tangent to.
    3. To come up to; reach: when the thermometer touches 90°.
    4. To match in quality; equal: Rival artists can't touch her work at its best.
    5. To draw with light strokes.
    6. To change or improve by adding fine lines or strokes.
    7. Archaic To strike or pluck the keys or strings of (a musical instrument).
    8. To play (a musical piece).
  8. To deal with, especially in passing; treat briefly or allusively: some remarks touching recent events.
  9. To be pertinent to; concern: environmental problems that touch us all.
  10. To affect the emotions of; move to tender response: an appeal that touched us deeply.
  11. To injure slightly: plants touched by frost.
  12. To color slightly; tinge: a white petal touched with pink.
    1. To draw with light strokes.
    2. To change or improve by adding fine lines or strokes.
    3. Archaic To strike or pluck the keys or strings of (a musical instrument).
    4. To play (a musical piece).
  14. To stamp (tested metal).
  15. Slang To wheedle a loan or handout from: touched a friend for five dollars.
    1. Archaic To strike or pluck the keys or strings of (a musical instrument).
    2. To play (a musical piece).
v.   intr.
  1. To touch someone or something.
  2. To be or come into contact: Don't let the live wires touch.
n.  
  1. The act or an instance of touching.
  2. The physiological sense by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body.
  3. A sensation experienced in touching something with a characteristic texture: felt the touch of snowflakes on her face.
  4. A light push; a tap: an electric switch that requires just a touch.
  5. A discernible mark or effect left by contact with something.
  6. A small change or addition, or the effect achieved by it: Candlelight provided just the right touch.
  7. A suggestion, hint, or tinge: a touch of jealousy.
  8. A mild attack: a touch of the flu.
  9. A small amount; a dash: a touch of paprika.
    1. A manner or technique of striking the keys of a keyboard instrument: He played briskly with a light touch.
    2. The resistance to pressure characteristic of the keys of a keyboard: an old piano with uneven touch.
    3. The act of approaching someone for a loan or handout.
    4. A prospect for a loan or handout: a generous person, a soft touch for beggars.
  11. An ability to propel a ball a desired distance: a golfer with no touch around the green.
  12. A facility; a knack: retained his touch as a carpenter in his retirement.
  13. A characteristic way of doing things: recognized my friend's touch in the choice of the card.
  14. The state of being in contact or communication: kept in touch with several classmates; out of touch with current trends.
  15. An official stamp indicating the quality of a metal product.
  16. Slang
    1. The act of approaching someone for a loan or handout.
    2. A prospect for a loan or handout: a generous person, a soft touch for beggars.
  17. Sports The area just outside the sidelines in soccer or just outside and including the sidelines in Rugby.
  18. To cause to explode; fire.
  19. To initiate; trigger: disclosures that touched off a public uproar.
  20. To describe or portray with deft precision.
  21. To deal with (a topic) in passing.
  22. To pertain to; concern.
  23. To approach being; verge on: frenzy that touched on clinical insanity.
Phrasal Verb(s):
touch downTo make contact with the ground; land: The spacecraft touched down on schedule.
touch off
  1. To cause to explode; fire.
  2. To initiate; trigger: disclosures that touched off a public uproar.
  3. To describe or portray with deft precision.
touch on/upon
  1. To deal with (a topic) in passing.
  2. To pertain to; concern.
  3. To approach being; verge on: frenzy that touched on clinical insanity.
touch upTo improve by making minor corrections, changes, or additions.

Idiom(s):
touch base/bases Informal To renew a line of communication: "He went out of his way to touch base with a broad cross section of . . . residents" (George B. Merry).

[Middle English touchen, from Old French touchier, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *toccāre.]
touch'a·ble adj., touch'a·ble·ness n., touch'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to bring the hands or fingers into contact with so as to give or receive a physical sensation: gently touched my hand; felt the runner's pulse; fingered the worry beads; handle a bolt of fabric; palpates the patient's abdomen; fans who pawed the celebrity's arm. See Also Synonyms at affect1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Touch

Touch\, v. t. 1. To compare with; of be equal to; -- usually with a negative; as, he held that for good cheer nothing could touch an open fire. [Colloq.]

2. To induce to give or lend; to borrow from; as, to touch one for a loan; hence, to steal from. [Slang]

Touch

Touch\, n. 1. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040.

2. An act of borrowing or stealing. [Slang]

3. Tallow; -- a plumber's term. [Eng.]

Touch

Touch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Touched; p. pr. & vb. n. Touching.] [F. toucher, OF. touchier, tuchier; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. zucchen, zukken, to twitch, pluck, draw, G. zukken, zukken, v. intens. fr. OHG. ziohan to draw, G. ziehen, akin to E. tug. See Tuck, v. t., Tug, and cf. Tocsin, Toccata.]

1. To come in contact with; to hit or strike lightly against; to extend the hand, foot, or the like, so as to reach or rest on.

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. --Milton.

2. To perceive by the sense of feeling.

Nothing but body can be touched or touch. --Greech.

3. To come to; to reach; to attain to.

The god, vindictive, doomed them never more- Ah, men unblessed! -- to touch their natal shore. --Pope.

4. To try; to prove, as with a touchstone. [Obs.]

Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed. --Shak.

5. To relate to; to concern; to affect.

The quarrel toucheth none but us alone. --Shak.

6. To handle, speak of, or deal with; to treat of.

Storial thing that toucheth gentilesse. --Chaucer.

7. To meddle or interfere with; as, I have not touched the books. --Pope.

8. To affect the senses or the sensibility of; to move; to melt; to soften.

What of sweet before Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this and harsh. --Milton.

The tender sire was touched with what he said. --Addison.

9. To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush.

The lines, though touched but faintly, are drawn right. --Pope.

10. To infect; to affect slightly. --Bacon.

11. To make an impression on; to have effect upon.

Its face . . . so hard that a file will not touch it. --Moxon.

12. To strike; to manipulate; to play on; as, to touch an instrument of music.

[They] touched their golden harps. --Milton.

13. To perform, as a tune; to play.

A person is the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet. --Sir W. Scott.

14. To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly. " No decree of mine, . . . [to] touch with lightest moment of impulse his free will," --Milton.

15. To harm, afflict, or distress.

Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee. --Gen. xxvi. 28, 29.

16. To affect with insanity, especially in a slight degree; to make partially insane; -- rarely used except in the past participle.

She feared his head was a little touched. --Ld. Lytton.

17. (Geom.) To be tangent to. See Tangent, a.

18. To lay a hand upon for curing disease.

To touch a sail (Naut.), to bring it so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.

To touch the wind (Naut.), to keep the ship as near the wind as possible.

To touch up, to repair; to improve by touches or emendation.

Touch

Touch\, v. i. 1. To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only at points. --Johnson.

2. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression. [R.]

Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver. --Bacon.

3. To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; -- often with on or upon.

If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately quitted it. --Addison.

4. (Naut) To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.

To touch and go (Naut.), to touch bottom lightly and without damage, as a vessel in motion.

To touch at, to come or go to, without tarrying; as, the ship touched at Lisbon.

To touch on or upon, to come or go to for a short time. [R.]

I made a little voyage round the lake, and touched on the several towns that lie on its coasts. --Addison.

Touch

Touch\, n. [Cf. F. touche. See Touch, v. ]

1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact.

Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting. --Shak.

2. (Physiol.) The sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin is recognized; the sense by which the properties of bodies are determined by contact; the tactile sense. See Tactile sense, under Tactile.

The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. --Pope.

Note: Pure tactile feelings are necessarily rare, since temperature sensations and muscular sensations are more or less combined with them. The organs of touch are found chiefly in the epidermis of the skin and certain underlying nervous structures.

3. Act or power of exciting emotion.

Not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us. --Shak.

4. An emotion or affection.

A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy. --Hooker.

5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.]

Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. --Bacon.

6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence, animadversion; censure; reproof.

I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret. --Eikon Basilike.

7. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.

Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design. --Dryden.

8. Feature; lineament; trait.

Of many faces, eyes, and hearts, To have the touches dearest prized. --Shak.

9. The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the plural, musical notes.

Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. --Shak.

10. A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash.

Eyes La touch of Sir Peter Lely in them. --Hazlitt.

Madam, I have a touch of your condition. --Shak.

11. A hint; a suggestion; slight notice.

A small touch will put him in mind of them. --Bacon.

12. A slight and brief essay. [Colloq.]

Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch. --Swift.

13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone. [Obs.] " Now do I play the touch." --Shak.

A neat new monument of touch and alabaster. --Fuller.

14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.

Equity, the true touch of all laws. --Carew.

Friends of noble touch . --Shak.

15. (Mus.) The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as, a heavy touch, or a light touch; also, the manner of touching, striking, or pressing the keys of a piano; as, a legato touch; a staccato touch.

16. (Shipbilding) The broadest part of a plank worked top and but (see Top and but, under Top, n.), or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters. --J. Knowles.

17. (Football) That part of the field which is beyond the line of flags on either side. --Encyc. of Rural Sports.

18. A boys' game; tag.

In touch (Football), outside of bounds. --T. Hughes.

To be in touch, to be in contact, or in sympathy.

To keep touch. (a) To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement [Obs.]; hence, to fulfill duly a function.

My mind and senses keep touch and time. --Sir W. Scott. (b) To keep in contact; to maintain connection or sympathy; -- with with or of.

Touch and go, a phrase descriptive of a narrow escape.

True as touch (i. e., touchstone), quite true. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : touch
Spanish: tocar(se),
German: (sich)berühren,
Japanese: 触れる
More Translations »

touch  (v.)
1290 (implied in touching), from O.Fr. touchier "to touch, hit, knock" (11c.), from V.L. *toccare "to knock, strike" as a bell (cf. Sp. tocar, It. toccare), perhaps of imitative origin. Meaning "to get or borrow money" first recorded 1760. Touched "stirred emotionally" is from 1340; touching "affecting the emotions" is from 1601. Touch and go (adj.) is recorded from 1812, apparently from the name of a tag-like game, first recorded 1655. Touch football is first attested 1933. Touch-me-not (1597) translates L. noli-me-tangere.

touch  (n.)
1297, from O.Fr. touche "a touching," from touchier (see touch (v.)). Meaning "slight attack" (of an illness, etc.) is recorded from 1662. Sense of "skill or aptitude in some topic" is first recorded 1927. Soft touch "person easily manipulated" is recorded from 1940.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: 1touch
Pronunciation: 't&ch
Function: transitive verb
: to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceivethrough the tactile sense : handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate touch intransitive senses
: to feel something with a body part(as the hand or foot)

Main Entry: 2touch
Function: noun
1 : the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived
2 : a light attack touch of fever>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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touch (tŭch)
n.

  1. The physiological sense by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body.
  2. Digital examination.
touch·a·ble adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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touch

In addition to the idioms beginning with touch, 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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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