touch-upn.
/ˈtʌtʃʌp/, U.S. /ˈtətʃəp/ A small addition or modification made to improve a painting, drawing, etc.; a finishing touch; (later also) an act of making something smarter or tidier in appearance, esp. by making a superficial repair. Also more generally: an act of touching up in various senses (see to touch up at touch v. Phrasal verbs).In quot. 1733 as a humorous surname for a painter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > completing > [noun] > that which > finishing touch or crowning act
copestone1567
last hand1567
colophon1628
capstone1685
grace stroke1686
finishing stroke1695
coup de grâce1699
touch-up1733
finish1779
crowner1815
coping-stone1860
grace note1922
topper1940
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [noun] > slight improvement > instance of
touch-up1733
touching1902
the mind > will > motivation > [noun] > incitement or instigation > that which incites or instigates > slight
touch-up1733
nudgea1845
prod1905
1733 Corn Cutter's Jrnl. 13 Nov. Tom Touchup, the Painter.
1836 Figaro in London 29 Oct. 179/2 The drawing-master at her elbow gives it a touch up.
1885 Athenæum 1 Aug. 144/3 Tom Moore did not..give the great novelist a retrospective touch-up with his poetic pencil.
1912 Chambers's Jrnl. 14 Sept. 672/1 Each train being fitted with an electric motor to give it a ‘touch up’ between the stations.
1963 Life 20 Dec. (advt.) If your natural hair color is very dark, or if your hair grows very fast..you should have a touch-up about every 3 weeks.
2004 Ireland's Own Christmas 117/3 An executive-type mother puts a hand into her pocket to pull out lipstick for a last-minute touch-up.
2015 Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (Nexis) 4 July 3 You should be able to recruit people who will donate their time and money to assist with minor painting and touch-ups.
Compounds
attributive, with reference to repair work carried out to improve the appearance of something, as touch-up paint, touch-up work, etc.
ΚΠ
1892 Hub June 102/1 The wiser way for the conscientious painter to pursue..is to promptly explain to the owner of each and every ‘touch up’ job the condition of things likely to be developed during the progress of the work.
1898 M. C. Hillick Pract. Carriage & Wagon Painting xiii. 119 It is a principle adhered to by many skilled workmen in the matching of colors that the touch-up color should contain sufficient varnish to cause it to dry with a stout gloss.
1958 Pop. Sci. Jan. 122/2 Fender scratchers may appreciate spray cans of color-matched touch-up paint found in Buick parts departments.
1992 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 4 July c11 After you finish all the washing and touch-up work, you may want to add more color with a penetrating wood stain.
2005 M. Lewycka Short Hist. Tractors in Ukrainian xvii. 177 The paintwork which was once white is now a patchwork of touch-up paint, filler, and rust.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1733