- to put the hand, finger, etc., on or into contact with (something) to feel it: He touched the iron cautiously.
- to come into contact with and perceive (something), as the hand or the like does.
- to bring (the hand, finger, etc., or something held) into contact with something: She touched a match to the papers.
- to give a slight tap or pat to with the hand, finger, etc.; strike or hit gently or lightly.
- to come into or be in contact with.
- (of a line or surface) to be tangent to.
- to be adjacent to or border on.
- to come up to; reach; attain.
- to attain equality with; compare with (usually used with a negative): a style that cannot touch that of Shakespeare.
- to mark by strokes of the brush, pencil, or the like.
- to mark or relieve slightly, as with color: a gray dress touched with blue.
- to stop at (a place), as a ship: The ship touched shore several times during the cruise.
- to treat or affect in some way by contact.
- to affect as if by contact; tinge; imbue.
- to affect with some feeling or emotion, especially tenderness, pity, gratitude, etc.: Their sufferings touched his heart.
- 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.
- to eat or drink; consume; taste (usually used with a negative): He won't touch another drink.
- to lay hands on, often in a violent manner: Don't you touch this child!
- to deal with or treat in speech or writing.
- to refer or allude to.
- to pertain or relate to: a critic in all matters touching the kitchen.
- to be a matter of importance to; make a difference to; affect: This grave decision touches all of us.
- to stamp (metal) as being of standard purity.
- to apply to for money, or succeed in getting money from: He touched me for five dollars.
- to steal from.
- Archaic.
- to strike the strings, keys, etc., of (a musical instrument) so as to cause it to sound.
- to play or perform (an air, notes, etc.) on a musical instrument.
- to place the hand, finger, etc., on or in contact with something.
- to come into or be in contact.
- to make a stop or a short call at a place, as a ship or those on board (usually followed by at).
- the act or state of touching; state or fact of being touched.
- that sense by which anything material is perceived by means of physical contact.
- the quality of something touched that imparts a sensation: an object with a slimy touch.
- a coming into or being in contact.
- mental or moral perception, sensitivity, or understanding: He has a marvelous touch in dealing with people.
- ability, skill, or dexterity; knack: to lose one's touch.
- 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.
- close communication, agreement, sympathy, or the like: to be out of touch with reality; Let's keep in touch.
- a slight stroke or blow.
- a slight attack, as of illness or disease: a touch of rheumatism.
- a slight added action or effort in doing or completing any piece of work: to provide the finishing touches.
- a special detail or feature: The berries macerated in extra virgin olive oil were a nice touch that elevated the custard dessert plate.
- manner of execution in artistic work.
- the act or manner of touching or fingering a keyboard instrument.
- the mode of action of the keys of an instrument, as of a piano or typewriter.
- a partial series of changes on a peal of bells.
- a stroke or dash, as with a brush, pencil, or pen.
- a slight amount of some quality, attribute, etc.: a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
- a slight quantity or degree: a touch of salt.
- a distinguishing characteristic or trait: the touch of the master.
- quality or kind in general.
- an act of testing something.
- something that serves as a test; touchstone.
- Slang.
- the act of approaching someone for money as a gift or a loan.
- the obtaining of money in this manner.
- the money obtained.
- a person considered from the standpoint of the relative ease with which they will give or lend money: I can always hit him for ten—he's an easy touch.
- theft.
- Metallurgy.
- an official mark put upon precious metal after testing to indicate its purity.
- a die, stamp, or the like for impressing such a mark.
- an identifying mark impressed on pewter by its maker.
- the area outside the touchlines.
- either of the touchlines or the area outside of the touchlines.
- (of an airplane) to come into contact with the ground; land.
- touch off,
- to represent or characterize precisely.
- to cause to ignite or explode.
- to give rise to; initiate: This incident will touch off another crisis.
- touch on / upon
- to mention a subject briefly or casually; treat of in passing: In his lecture he touched on the major aspects of the controversy.
- to come close to; approach.
- to relate or pertain to.
- touch up,
- to make minor changes or improvements in the appearance of.
- to modify or improve (a painting, photograph, etc.) by adding small strokes or making slight changes.
- to rouse by or as if by striking: This should touch up your memory.
- to try to borrow money from: Willie put the touch on me for another ten last night.
- See entry at touch base.
- the sense by which the texture and other qualities of objects can be experienced when they come in contact with a part of the body surface, esp the tips of the fingers
- the quality of an object as perceived by this sense; feel; feeling
- the act or an instance of something coming into contact with the body
- a gentle push, tap, or caress
- a small amount; hint
- a noticeable effect; influence
- any slight stroke or mark
- characteristic manner or style
- a detail of some work, esp a literary or artistic work
- a slight attack, as of a disease
- a specific ability or facility
- the state of being aware of a situation or in contact with someone
- the state of being in physical contact
- a trial or test (esp in the phrase put to the touch)
- the area outside the touchlines, beyond which the ball is out of play (esp in the phrase in touch)
- archaic
- an official stamp on metal indicating standard purity
- the die stamp used to apply this mark
- a scoring hit in competitive fencing
- an estimate of the amount of gold in an alloy as obtained by use of a touchstone
- the technique of fingering a keyboard instrument
- the quality of the action of a keyboard instrument with regard to the relative ease with which the keys may be depressed
- any series of changes where the permutations are fewer in number than for a peal
- slang
- the act of asking for money as a loan or gift, often by devious means
- the money received in this way
- a person asked for money in this way
- to cause or permit a part of the body to come into contact with
- to tap, feel, or strike, esp with the hand
- to come or cause (something) to come into contact with (something else)
- to be in contact
- to take hold of (a person or thing), esp in violence
- to be adjacent to (each other)
- to move or disturb by handling
- to have an effect on
- to produce an emotional response in
- to affect; concern
- to partake of, eat, or drink
- to handle or deal with
- to allude (to) briefly or in passing
- to tinge or tint slightly
- to spoil or injure slightly
- to mark, as with a brush or pen
- to compare to in quality or attainment; equal or match
- to reach or attain
- to dock or stop briefly
- to ask for a loan or gift of money from
- rare
- to finger (the keys or strings of an instrument)
- to play (a tune, piece of music, etc) in this way
- to make contact