Definition

1. Noun:

   • The sense of feeling through physical contact: The faculty by which the body, especially the skin, perceives pressure, temperature, or texture.
   • A light physical contact: An act of coming into contact with something, often lightly or briefly.
   • A distinctive skill or manner in doing something: A characteristic style or deftness in handling a task or craft.
   • A small amount; a trace: A slight but noticeable quantity or degree of something.
   • Communication or connection: The state of being in contact or communication with someone or something.

2. Verb:

   • To come into physical contact with: To bring a part of the body, especially the hand, into contact with something.
   • To handle or feel with the hands: To use the sense of touch to examine or perceive something.
   • To affect emotionally; to move: To cause feelings of sympathy, sadness, or tenderness.
   • To reach or extend to: To be so close as to be in contact with; to border on.
   • To use or consume, especially food or drink: To eat or drink, often used in negative constructions.
   • To deal with or refer to a subject: To mention or discuss a topic, often briefly.
   • To be comparable to; to rival: To be equal in quality or ability.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The fabric was soft to the touch. (The sensation felt by contacting the fabric was soft.)
  • She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. (She felt a light physical contact.)
  • The painting was finished with an expert's touch. (The painting was completed with a masterful skill.)
  • Add just a touch of salt. (Add only a very small amount of salt.)
  • Let's keep in touch after you move. (Let's maintain communication.)

• Verb:

  • Please do not touch the artwork. (Please avoid making physical contact with the artwork.)
  • He touched the wall to see if the paint was dry. (He used his hand to feel the wall's condition.)
  • The sad story touched my heart. (The story emotionally moved me.)
  • Our property touches the edge of the forest. (Our land extends to and contacts the forest.)
  • He didn't touch his dinner. (He did not eat any of his dinner.)
  • The speaker touched on several important issues. (The speaker briefly mentioned several issues.)
  • No other brand can touch theirs for quality. (No other brand is comparable to theirs in quality.)

Advanced Usage

• "A touch of": A small amount or hint of something.
  • There was a touch of frost in the air. (There was a slight feeling of cold frost.)
• "To lose touch": To cease communication or familiarity.
  • We lost touch after college. (We stopped communicating after college.)
• "To touch base": To make contact briefly, especially to exchange information.
  • I'll touch base with you next week. (I will contact you briefly for an update.)
• "The common touch": The ability to relate to ordinary people.
  • The politician was admired for his common touch. (He was admired for his ability to connect with average citizens.)

Variants and Related Words

• Touchable (adj): Able to be touched or felt.
  • The sculpture was within reach and touchable.
• Untouched (adj): Not touched, affected, or used.
  • The ancient ruins remained untouched.
• Touchscreen (n): A display screen that is sensitive to touch.
  • The device is controlled via a touchscreen.
• Retouch (v): To improve or alter a picture or photograph by making small additions or alterations.
  • The photographer will retouch the portrait.

Synonyms

• Noun: Feel, contact, trace, hint, skill.
• Verb: Feel, contact, handle, move, affect, reach, mention.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Touch down: (Of an aircraft) to land.
  • The plane will touch down in an hour.
• Touch off: To cause something to start, especially suddenly (e.g., a conflict or explosion).
  • The remark touched off a heated argument.
• Touch up: To make small improvements or repairs to something.
  • He needed to touch up the paint on the door.

Related Idioms

• Touch and go: A risky or uncertain situation.
  • After the accident, it was touch and go for a while. (The outcome was uncertain.)
• Wouldn't touch something/someone with a ten-foot pole: To want to avoid something or someone completely.
  • That deal sounds suspicious; I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
• The finishing touch(es): The final details that complete something.
  • She added flowers as the finishing touch to the table setting.

Noun

1. the feel of mechanical action
   • this piano has a wonderful touch
2. deftness in handling matters
   • he has a master's touch
3. the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin
   • she likes the touch of silk on her skin
   • the surface had a greasy feeling
4. the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan)
   • he watched the beggar trying to make a touch
5. a slight attack of illness
   • he has a touch of rheumatism
6. a communicative interaction
   • the pilot made contact with the base
   • he got in touch with his colleagues
7. a slight but appreciable amount
   • this dish could use a touch of garlic
8. the act of putting two things together with no space between them
   • at his touch the room filled with lights
9. a distinguishing style
   • this room needs a woman's touch
10. a suggestion of some quality
    • there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
    • he detected a ghost of a smile on her face
11. the faculty by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body (especially the hands)
    • only sight and touch enable us to locate objects in the space around us
12. the event of something coming in contact with the body
    • he longed for the touch of her hand
    • the cooling touch of the night air

Verb

1. color lightly
   • her greying hair was tinged blond
   • the leaves were tinged red in November
2. consume
   • She didn't touch her food all night
3. comprehend
   • He could not touch the meaning of the poem
4. make a more or less disguised reference to
   • He alluded to the problem but did not mention it
5. tamper with
   • Don't touch my CDs!
6. be equal to in quality or ability
   • Nothing can rival cotton for durability
   • Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
   • Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
7. to extend as far as
   • The sunlight reached the wall
   • Can he reach? The chair must not touch the wall
8. cause to be in brief contact with
   • He touched his toes to the horse's flanks
9. deal with; usually used with a form of negation
   • I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole
   • The local Mafia won't touch gambling
10. have an effect upon
    • Will the new rules affect me?
11. be in direct physical contact with; make contact
    • The two buildings touch
    • Their hands touched
    • The wire must not contact the metal cover
    • The surfaces contact at this point
12. be relevant to
    • There were lots of questions referring to her talk
    • My remark pertained to your earlier comments
13. affect emotionally
    • A stirring movie
    • I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy
14. perceive via the tactile sense
    • Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her
15. make physical contact with, come in contact with
    • Touch the stone for good luck
    • She never touched her husband