- touch
- touch [tuch]vt.[ME touchen < OFr tochier (Fr toucher) < VL * toccare < * tok, light blow, of echoic orig.]1. to put the hand, the finger, or some other part of the body on, so as to feel; perceive by the sense of feeling2. 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 cure4. to be or come into contact with5. to border on; adjoin6. to strike lightly7. 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; use11. to handle roughly or molest12. to taste or partake of: usually used in the negative [didn't touch his supper]13. to come up to; reach; attain14. 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; misappropriate16. to deal with or refer to, esp. in a light or passing way; mention17. 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 from21. Archaica) to strike the keys of, pluck the strings of, etc. (a musical instrument)b) to play (a few notes, an air, etc.)22. Geom. to be tangent tovi.1. to touch a person or thing2. to be or come in contact3. 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 upon6. to stop briefly or land (at a port, etc.) during a voyage7. Geom. to be tangentn.1. a touching or being touched; specif.,a) a light tap, stroke, etc.b) a delicate stroke made with a brush in painting, etc.2. the sense by which physical objects are felt; tactile sense3. a sensation caused by touching, esp. one that is characteristic of a particular substance or texture; tactile quality; feel4. 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.,a) a mark, impression, etc. left by touchingb) a subtle change or addition in a painting, story, or other work7. a very small amount, degree, etc.; specif.,a) a trace, tinge, etc. [a touch of humor]b) a slight attack [a touch of the flu]8. contact or communication [to lose touch with reality, to keep in touch with friends]9. Slanga) the act of asking for, or getting in this way, a loan or gift of money [to make a touch]b) money so gottenc) a person with reference to the ease with which money can be so gotten from him10. Musica) the manner in which a performer strikes the keys of a keyboard instrument [a delicate touch]b) the manner in which the action of a piano, etc. responds to the fingers [a piano with a heavy touch]c) in bell ringing, a set of changes less than a peal11. Rugby Soccer the part of the field outside the sidelinesSYN.- AFFECT1——————touch downto land: said of an aircraft or spacecraft——————touch off1. to represent accurately or aptly2. to make explode or detonate; fire3. to initiate (esp. a violent action or reaction); set off——————touch up1. to stimulate or rouse, as by a tap or light blow2. to improve or finish (a painting, literary work, etc.) by minor changes or additions3. to iron, or press, lightlytouchabilityn.touchableadj.touchern.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.
