touch
/tʌtʃ
/verb [with object]
1Come into or be in contact with: he leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor...
- Its majestic branches drooped dramatically, some nearly touching the ground, but all providing a cozy little curtain whenever the crew decided to hang around at its grassy base.
- She was curled up in a cozy little ball with her arms around her knees, nightshirt trailing beneath her like a ghostly shroud, not quite touching the floor.
- He was incredibly professional looking, his black and gray robes nearly touching the floor.
Synonyms
be in contact (with), come into contact (with), come together (with), meet, join, connect, converge (with), be contiguous (with), border (on), be (up) against, link up (with), adjoin, abut, neighbour
1.1Bring one’s hand or another part of one’s body into contact with: he touched a strand of her hair Andrew touched him on the shoulder...
- He didn't grip her tightly but barely let his fingers touch her body.
- A mother who picks up an affected new-born baby suddenly discovers she has left a trail of blisters across its body - just by touching it gently.
- Stealthily I moved in, until I was so close I could have actually touched the little body that lay motionless in the grass in front of me.
Synonyms
press lightly, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke;
feel, stroke, rub, rub (up) against, brush, brush (up) against, graze;
fondle, caress, pet, tickle, toy with, play about with, fiddle with, finger, thumb, handle;
put one's hand on, lay a hand on, lay a finger on
1.2Come or bring into mutual contact: [no object]: for a moment their fingers touched [with object]: we touched wheels and nearly came off the road...
- They reached, and for one agonising moment they touched fingers…
- She hands him back his credit card, and their fingers touch for a moment.
- Their hands touched slightly and Ann pulled back as though she had been burned.
1.3 [with object and adverbial of direction] Strike (a ball) lightly in a specified direction: he touched back a cross-field ball...
- Superb play from Ballack, who robbed Fabregas and then touched the ball past him to earn a time-wasting free-kick.
- A cross from Pat Gaughan found Wayne Crossley and he touched the ball into the bottom corner.
- The supporting Rob Bourne was tackled almost on the line. A ruck was formed, and hooker Matt Hartley touched the ball down to score an unconverted try.
1.4 Geometry Be tangent to (a curve or surface) at a certain point.
2Handle in order to interfere with, alter, or otherwise affect: I didn’t play her records or touch any of her stuff...
- I hadn't touched the gear handle or flaps after the shot, and, therefore, reasoned the gear and flaps still were down.
- Nevertheless, these are dangerous animals and should not be touched or interfered with in any way by divers.
- McLaren were also fined even though the contents of the box were not touched and were legal.
Synonyms
handle, hold, pick up, move;
meddle with, play (about/around) with, toy with, fiddle with, interfere with, tamper with, disturb, harm, lay a hand on, lay a finger on;
use, employ, make use of, put to use, have access to, access, avail oneself of, get (at), take advantage of
2.1Cause harm to (someone): I’ve got friends who’ll pull strings—nobody will dare touch me...
- If you try to harm me, or touch me, you may suffer a worse fate.
- If you dared touch her you are as good as dead and that is by my law!
- An enormous hate wells up in her for the man who would dare to touch her mother; the woman who works herself almost to death to provide for her child.
2.2 [usually with negative] Consume or use (food, drink, money, etc.): the pint by his right hand was hardly touched in three years I haven’t touched a cent of the money...
- The Deep has managed to build up credit worth £2.9m, but because it is a registered charity, does not pay tax, and therefore cannot touch the money.
- Are we still not touching money today because it's dirty?
- Since you cannot touch the money until you retire, you no longer have a rainy-day fund, or a down payment for a house.
Synonyms
taste, consume, eat, drink, take, partake of
3Affect or concern: a tenth of state companies have been touched by privatization...
- This was a concert for those touched by dispossession and resistance.
- When one talks about reforms in the Muslim community, none of the important organisations touch these issues.
- Thanks for a great analysis touching many of the important bases.
Synonyms
affect, have an effect on, concern, involve, have a bearing on, be relevant to, be pertinent to
3.1 [with negative] Have any dealings with: he was good only for the jobs that nobody else would touch...
- The result will create fear at the Today programme, where there should be pride. As so many times before, they were there with a story that nobody else would touch.
- I even came to him with that Faulkner book, which nobody would touch.
- I don't touch anything involved with electricity, for example.
Synonyms
be associated with, concern oneself with, involve oneself in/with, get involved with/in, have something to do with, have dealings with, deal with, handle, be a party to
informal touch something with a bargepole
3.2(Of a quality or expression) be or become visible or apparent in: the voice was touched by hysteria a wry smile touched his lips...
- His expression touching bewilderment, he nevertheless returned my mother's overpowering embrace with a smile and genuine goodbye.
- An unidentifiable expression touches Michael's features, then he lets his eyelids fall shut and rotates his head away from us on the pillow.
- A wry smile touched Ame's lips as she ran her fingers over the faded image, eyes softening.
4Produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in: she was touched by her friend’s loyalty...
- His wife, who arranged the whole deal, kept trying to talk to him, but he couldn't take his eyes off Tommy Lee, who looked touched by the affection the dude had for him.
- Teach your teachers and leaders to pray before class starts, asking God to guide their words and touch the hearts of their students.
- I think your words have touched my heart completely.
Synonyms
affect, move, stir, arouse, make/leave an impression on, impress, have an impact on, have an effect on;
influence, impassion;
upset, disturb, make sad, arouse sympathy, melt, soften
informal get (to)
affected, softened, moved, stirred, swayed, aroused, impressed, influenced, warmed, impassioned, upset, disturbed, distressed
5 informal Reach (a specified level or amount): sales touched twenty grand last year...
- The yen, meanwhile, held in check by Japan's central bank, can only manage a 41-month high, touching levels last seen in late 2000.
- From any standard this level is said to be touching the poverty line, but statistics show that despite the government's claims poverty is on the rise.
- The housing loan, the key component of the advance portfolio, touched the level of Rs 110 crore.
Synonyms
reach, attain, arrive at, come to, make;
get up to, rise to, soar to;
get down to, sink to, plummet to, dive to
informal hit
5.1 [usually with negative] Be comparable to in quality or excellence: there’s no one who can touch him at lightweight judo...
- There's no one who can touch Noble for flights of nonsensical fancy.
- Chris [Cormier] can't touch Flex for symmetry and structure, and that's why I expect a lighter and better Wheeler to finish a strong second behind Ronnie.
- But when it comes to building lovable robots, no-on can touch Sony for cuteness (and no, they're not on sale yet).
Synonyms
compare with, be on a par with, equal, match, be a match for, be in the same class as, be in the same league as, be on an equal footing with, parallel, rival, come near, get near, approach, come up to, come/get close to, measure up to/against;
better, beat
informal hold a candle to
6 (touch someone for) informal Ask someone for (money or some other commodity) as a loan or gift: he touched me for his fare...
- Sasha, a charity worker, is more interested in cosying up to big fish than touching them for their money.
- So in a fit of sentimentality and with the keen realization that the guy still has a couple hundred grand that you haven't touched him for yet, you name your first born after it.
- You can touch Evan for the occasional meal or drinks but a million bucks is crossing the line.
Synonyms
ask, approach;
beg, borrow from
7 (touch something in) chiefly Art Lightly mark in features or other details with a brush or pencil.
noun
1An act of touching someone or something: her touch on his shoulder was hesitant [mass noun]: expressions of love through words and touch [in singular]: manipulate images on the screen at the touch of a key...
- He ran his fingers across it wondering what it was supposed to mean, but at the touch of his hand words suddenly appeared.
- Alex jumps at the touch of Robert's hand on his shoulder.
- He jumped at the touch of my hand to his bare skin.
Synonyms
press, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke, push, glance, flick;
stroke, brush, graze;
pressure
1.1 [mass noun] The faculty of perception through physical contact, especially with the fingers: reading by touch...
- Even if one is blessed with the senses of touch, smell, speech and hearing, it is sight that gives shape to imagination.
- They were doing this with their hands in the dark with just a flashlight, and just using their senses of touch, smell and sight.
- The wall will include different pieces of artwork to stimulate various senses including touch, smell, sight and sound.
Synonyms
feeling, feel, sense of touch, contact, tactile sense, tactility;
texture
1.2 [mass noun] A musician’s manner of playing keys or strings.What makes Jansons unique in his métier is the intricacy of his musical touch....
- Information is included on staccato touches and the two-note slur touch.
- Piau here has a lightness of touch which sits perfectly with the Mozart.
1.3 [mass noun] The manner in which a musical instrument’s keys or strings respond to being played: Viennese instruments with their too delicate touch
1.4A light stroke with a pen, pencil, etc.Burningham really knows how to convey fatigue with the lightest of touches (the strokes of pen that make the eyes do much of the work)....
- Finally, the tiny details were added by the deft pencil, filling in the gaps with intricate strokes in the very lightest of touches…
- He portrays his wife with the lightest of touches, using red chalk, heightened with white in soft, feathery strokes which evince the profound French influence on his art.
2A small amount; a trace: add a touch of vinegar he retired to bed with a touch of flu...
- A touch of Mardi Gras with a carnival type atmosphere was the end result and children of all ages had a memorable experience on this special occasion in Tubbercurry.
- A touch of first night nerves hit the more experienced actors hardest, as one might expect but no doubt they disappeared as the week progressed.
- A touch of Superstar Complacency had set in, I thought - which is a bit rich when you haven't even released your first single yet.
Synonyms
small amount, trace, bit, suggestion, suspicion, hint, scintilla, tinge, tincture, whiff, whisper, overtone, undertone, nuance, murmur, colouring, breath, vein;
dash, taste, spot, drop, dab, pinch, speck, smack, smattering, sprinkling, splash, soupçon
2.1A small distinctive detail or feature: the film’s most inventive touch...
- Also offered is lunchtime delivery service, which, if you happen to work in the area, is a nice touch - call for details.
- While a little light in content, this was an interesting feature and a nice touch.
- A nice touch is the addition of plasma tv screens to watch sporting events while you play.
Synonyms
detail, feature, fine point, nicety, addition, accessory;
(touches) minutiae
3 [in singular] A distinctive manner or method of dealing with something: later he showed a surer political touch...
- Serving tea to the Dixon family in Mr Howard's sitting room showed a political touch which the Tories have lacked for the best part of a decade.
- Craig David has been to Rishi's studio giving his single Spanish a bhangra touch, even managing to sing a verse in Punjabi that had been specially written for him.
- The woman's voice had been selected after tests with pilots showed that the feminine touch proved the most effective.
Synonyms
skill, skilfulness, expertise, dexterity, deftness, virtuosity, adroitness, adeptness, ability, talent, flair, facility, proficiency;
knack, technique, approach, style, manner, execution, method;
feel, craftsmanship, workmanship, artistry, performance
influence, effect, hand, handling;
direction, management, technique, method
3.1An ability to deal with something successfully: getting caught looks so incompetent, as though we’re losing our touch...
- The Prime Minister, we are told, is losing his touch.
- However, I'm going to shout that honestly, Rick, you are losing your touch.
- But there are signs that he could be losing his touch for self-promotion.
4 [in singular] Rugby & Soccer The area beyond the sidelines, out of play: his clearance went directly into touch figurative the idea was kicked firmly into touch by the authorities...
- The English mistakes came thick and fast as Jonny Wilkinson knocked on and Luger sliced a horrible kick into touch to the delight of the Welsh supporters.
- If their hearts are not at the club then they should be kicked straight into touch.
- Once at University Andrew kicked rugby into touch because he was fed up of waking up with a thick head, took up rowing - and the rest is history.
5 [in singular] informal, dated An act of asking for and getting a loan or gift from someone: I only tolerated him because he was good for a touch now and then
6 Bell-ringing A series of changes shorter than a peal.
7 [in singular] archaic A thing that tests the worth or character of something: you must put your fate to the touch
Phrases
a touch
in touch
lose touch
out of touch
to the touch
touch bottom
touch of nature
touch of the sun
Phrasal verbs
touch at
touch down
touch something off
touch on (or upon)
touch someone up
touch something up
Derivatives
touchable
- The corporeal, physical body is the tangible, seeable, touchable body, manifesting the desire of the spirit energy, to see itself manifest into a form that proves and provides its worth to all.
- The ‘Other’ was not at a distance but highly visible and touchable as a workmate, a neighbour or a friend with whom close contact was maintained both within and outside the mill.
- Canadians spend so much time agonizing over our lack of solid, touchable, definable identity that it has practically become a national pastime.
Origin
Middle English: the verb from Old French tochier, probably from a Romance word of imitative origin; the noun originally from Old French touche, later (in certain senses) directly from the verb.
A word from Old French tochier ‘to touch’. In modern French this is toucher, which is the source of touché, literally ‘touched!’, said in fencing to acknowledge a hit made by your opponent, and more generally in recognition of a good or clever point in a discussion. In the mid 19th century touch developed a number of slang meanings among criminals. It described various ways of getting money from people, either by stealing, especially pickpocketing, or by some con trick. A soft touch was someone who was particularly easy to con or steal from, and even today the phrase is often used to describe someone who is always willing to lend money to a friend. Someone touched is slightly mad or crazy. The sense has been used since about 1700, and was probably suggested by a line of Shakespeare's, from Measure for Measure: ‘I am touch'd with madness.’
From the 16th century a touchstone was a piece of jasper or other stone used for testing alloys of gold by observing the colour of the mark which they made on it. Nowadays a touchstone is usually a standard or criterion by which people judge or recognize something. Touchy, ‘easily upset or offended’, may not be directly from touch, though it has been influenced by the word. It was probably originally an alteration of tetchy (see test).