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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TOUCH, v.t. tuch. [L. tango, originally tago, [our vulgar tag.] pret. tetigi, pp. tactus.]
1. To come in contact with; to hit or strike against.
He touched the hollow of his thigh. Genesis 32. Matthew 9.
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter. ESther 5.
2. To perceive by the sense of feeling.
Nothing but body can be touch'd or touch.
3. To come to; to reach; to attain to.
The god vindictive doom'd them never more,
Ah men unbless'd! to touch that natal shore.
4. To try, as gold with a stone.
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed--
5. To relate to; to concern.
The quarrel toucheth none but thee alone.
[This sense is now nearly obsolete.]
6. To handle slightly.
7. To meddle with. I have not touched the books.
8. To affect.
What of sweet
Hath touch'd my sense, flat seems to this.
9. To move; to soften; to melt.
The tender sire was touch'd with what he said.
10. To mark or delineate slightly.
The lines, though touch'd but faintly--
11. To infect; as men touched with pestilent diseases. [Little used.]
12. To make an impression on.
Its face must be--so hard that the file will not touch it.
13. To strike, as an instrument of music; to play on.
They touch'd their golden harps.
14. To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly.
No decree of mine,
To touch with lightest moment of impulse
His free will.
15. To treat slightly. In his discourse, he barely touched upon the subject deemed the most interesting.
16. To afflict or distress. Genesis 26.
To touch up, to repair; or to improve by slight touches or emendations.
To touch the wind, in seamen's language, is to keep the ship as near the wind as possible.
TOUCH, v.i. tuch. To be in contact with; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between. Two spheres touch only at points.
1. To fasten on; to take effect on.
Strong waters will touch upon gold,that will not touch silver.
2. To treat of slightly in discourse.
To touch at, to come or go to, without stay.
The ship touched at Lisbon.
The next day we touched at Sidon. Acts 27touch on or upon, to mention slightly.
If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they have immediately quitted it.
1. In the sense of touch at. [Little used.]
TOUCH, n. tuch. Contact; the hitting of two bodies; the junction of two bodies at the surface, so that there is no space between them. The mimosa shrinks at the slightest touch.
1. The sense of feeling; one of the five senses. We say, a thing is cold or warm to the touch; silk is soft to the touch.
The spider's touch how exquisitely fine!
2. The act of touching. The touch of cold water made him shrink.
3. The state of being touched.
--That never touch was welcome to thy hand
Unless I touch'd.
4. Examination by a stone.
5. Test; that by which any thing is examined.
Equity, the true touch of all laws.
6. Proof; tried qualities.
My friends of noble touch.
7. Single act of a pencil on a picture.
Never give the least touch with your pencil, till you have well examined your design.
8. Feature; lineament.
Of many faces, eyes and hearts,
To have the touches dearest priz'd.
9. Act of the hand on a musical instrument.
Soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
10. Power of exciting the affections.
Not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
Do strongly speak t'us.
11. Something of passion of affection.
He both makes intercession to God for sinners, and exercises dominion over all men, with a true, natural and sensible touch of mercy.
12. Particular application of any thing to a person.
Speech of touch towards others should be sparingly used.
13. A stroke; as a touch of raillery; a satiric touch.
14. Animadversion; censure; reproof.
I never bore any touch of conscience with greater regret.
15. Exact performance of agreement.
I keep touch with my promise.
16. A small quantity intermixed.
Madam, I have a touch of your condition.
17. A hint; suggestion; slight notice.
A small touch will put him in mind of them.
18. A cant word for a slight essay.
Print my preface in such forms, in the bookseller's phrase, will make a sixpenny touch. [Not in use.]
19. In music, the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as a heavy touch, or light touch.
20. In music, an organ is said to have a good touch or stop,when the keys close well.
21. In ship-building, touch is the broadest part of a plank worked top and butt; or the middle of a plank worked anchor-stock fashion; also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: 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" [syn: touch, touching]
2: 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" [syn: touch, sense of touch, skin senses, touch modality, cutaneous senses]
3: a suggestion of some quality; "there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone"; "he detected a ghost of a smile on her face" [syn: touch, trace, ghost]
4: a distinguishing style; "this room needs a woman's touch" [syn: touch, signature]
5: the act of putting two things together with no space between them; "at his touch the room filled with lights" [syn: touch, touching]
6: a slight but appreciable amount; "this dish could use a touch of garlic" [syn: touch, hint, tinge, mite, pinch, jot, speck, soupcon]
7: a communicative interaction; "the pilot made contact with the base"; "he got in touch with his colleagues" [syn: contact, touch]
8: a slight attack of illness; "he has a touch of rheumatism" [syn: touch, spot]
9: the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan); "he watched the beggar trying to make a touch"
10: the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin; "she likes the touch of silk on her skin"; "the surface had a greasy feeling" [syn: touch, touch sensation, tactual sensation, tactile sensation, feeling]
11: deftness in handling matters; "he has a master's touch"
12: the feel of mechanical action; "this piano has a wonderful touch" v
1: make physical contact with, come in contact with; "Touch the stone for good luck"; "She never touched her husband"
2: perceive via the tactile sense; "Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her"
3: affect emotionally; "A stirring movie"; "I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy" [syn: touch, stir]
4: be relevant to; "There were lots of questions referring to her talk"; "My remark pertained to your earlier comments" [syn: refer, pertain, relate, concern, come to, bear on, touch, touch on, have-to doe with]
5: 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" [syn: touch, adjoin, meet, contact]
6: have an effect upon; "Will the new rules affect me?" [syn: affect, impact, bear upon, bear on, touch on, touch]
7: 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"
8: cause to be in brief contact with; "He touched his toes to the horse's flanks"
9: to extend as far as; "The sunlight reached the wall"; "Can he reach?" "The chair must not touch the wall" [syn: reach, extend to, touch]
10: 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" [syn: equal, touch, rival, match]
11: tamper with; "Don't touch my CDs!" [syn: touch, disturb]
12: make a more or less disguised reference to; "He alluded to the problem but did not mention it" [syn: allude, touch, advert]
13: comprehend; "He could not touch the meaning of the poem"
14: consume; "She didn't touch her food all night" [syn: partake, touch]
15: color lightly; "her greying hair was tinged blond"; "the leaves were tinged red in November" [syn: tint, tinct, tinge, touch]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French tucher, tuchier, from Vulgar Latin *toccare to knock, strike a bell, touch, probably of imitative origin Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense ; handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate <loved to touch the soft silk> 2. to strike or push lightly especially with the hand or foot or an implement 3. to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal 4. archaic a. to play on (a stringed instrument) b. to perform (a melody) by playing or singing 5. a. to take into the hands or mouth <never touches alcohol> b. to put hands upon in any way or degree <don't touch anything before the police come>; especially to commit violence upon <swears he never touched the child> 6. to deal with ; become involved with <a sticky situation and I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole> 7. to induce to give or lend <touched him for ten dollars> 8. to cause to be briefly in contact or conjunction with something <touched her spurs to the horse> <touched his hand to his hat> 9. a. (1) to meet without overlapping or penetrating ; adjoin (2) to get to ; reach <the speedometer needle touched 80> b. to be tangent to c. to rival in quality or value <nothing can touch that cloth for durability> 10. to speak or tell of especially in passing <barely touched the incident in the speech> 11. a. to relate to ; concern b. to have an influence on ; affect 12. a. to leave a mark or impression on <few reagents will touch gold>; also tinge b. to harm slightly by or as if by contact ; taint, blemish <fruit touched by frost> c. to give a delicate tint, line, or expression to <a smile touched her lips> d. to get a hit off or score a run against <touched him for three runs> 13. to draw or delineate with light strokes 14. a. to hurt the feelings of ; wound b. to move to sympathetic feeling intransitive verb 1. a. to feel something with a body part (as the hand or foot) b. to lay hand or finger on a person to cure disease (as scrofula) 2. to be in contact 3. to come close ; verge <your actions touch on treason> 4. to have a bearing ; relate — used with on or upon 5. a. to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by water <touched at several ports> b. to treat a topic in a brief or casual manner — used with on or upon <touched upon many points> Synonyms: see affect • touchable adjective • toucher noun II. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. a light stroke, tap, or push b. a hit against an opponent in fencing 2. the act or fact of touching; also the act or an instance of handling or controlling a ball (as in basketball or soccer) 3. the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived 4. mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness, or tact <has a wonderful touch with children> 5. a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors ; feel <the velvety touch of velour> 6. a. archaic the act of rubbing gold or silver on a touchstone to test its quality b. test, trial — used chiefly in the phrase put to the touch 7. a. a visible effect ; mark <a touch of the tropical sun> b. weakness, defect 8. something slight of its kind: as a. a light attack <a touch of fever> b. a small quantity or indication ; hint <a touch of spring in the air> c. a transient emotion <a momentary touch of compunction> d. a near approach ; close call <beaten in the championships by a mere touch> 9. a. archaic the playing of an instrument (as a lute or piano) with the fingers; also musical notes or strains so produced b. particular action of a keyboard with reference to the resistance of its keys to pressure <piano with a stiff touch> 10. control of the hands: as a. a manner or method of touching or striking especially the keys of a keyboard instrument b. ability to precisely control the path and speed of a shot or pass <a great shooting touch> 11. a set of changes in change ringing that is less than a peal 12. a. an effective and subtle detail <applies the finishing touches to the story> b. distinctive and often effective manner or method <the touch of a master> c. a characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality 13. slang an act of soliciting or getting a gift or loan 14. the state or fact of being in contact or communication or of having awareness <lost touch with her cousin> <let's keep in touch> <out of touch with modern times> 15. the area outside of the touchlines in soccer or outside of and including the touchlines in rugby <the ball went into touch>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. come into or be in physical contact with (another thing) at one or more points. 2 tr. (often foll. by with) bring the hand etc. into contact with (touched her arm). 3 a intr. (of two things etc.) be in or come into contact with one another (the balls were touching). b tr. bring (two things) into mutual contact (they touched hands). 4 tr. rouse tender or painful feelings in (was touched by his appeal). 5 tr. strike lightly (just touched the wall with the back bumper). 6 tr. (usu. with neg.) a disturb or harm (don't touch my things). b have any dealings with (won't touch bricklaying). c consume; use up; make use of (dare not touch alcohol; has not touched her breakfast; need not touch your savings). d cope with; affect; manage (soap won't touch this dirt). 7 tr. a deal with (a subject) lightly or in passing (touched the matter of their expenses). b concern (it touches you closely). 8 tr. a reach or rise as far as, esp. momentarily (the thermometer touched 90°). b (usu. with neg.) approach in excellence etc. (can't touch him for style). 9 tr. affect slightly; modify (pity touched with fear). 10 tr. (as touched adj.) slightly mad. 11 tr. (often foll. by in) esp. Art mark lightly, put in (features etc.) with a brush, pencil, etc. 12 tr. a strike (the keys, strings, etc. of a musical instrument). b strike the keys or strings of (a piano etc.). 13 tr. (usu. foll. by for) sl. ask for and get money etc. from (a person) as a loan or gift (touched him for £5). 14 tr. injure slightly (blossom touched by frost). 15 tr. Geom. be tangent to (a curve). --n. 1 the act or an instance of touching, esp. with the body or hand (felt a touch on my arm). 2 a the faculty of perception through physical contact, esp. with the fingers (has no sense of touch in her right arm). b the qualities of an object etc. as perceived in this way (the soft touch of silk). 3 a small amount; a slight trace (a touch of salt; a touch of irony). 4 a a musician's manner of playing keys or strings. b the manner in which the keys or strings respond to touch. c an artist's or writer's style of workmanship, writing, etc. (has a delicate touch). 5 a distinguishing quality or trait (a professional touch). 6 (esp. in pl.) a a light stroke with a pen, pencil, etc. b a slight alteration or improvement (speech needs a few touches). 7 = TAG(2). 8 (prec. by a) slightly (is a touch too arrogant). 9 sl. a the act of asking for and getting money etc. from a person. b a person from whom money etc. is so obtained. 10 Football the part of the field outside the side limits. 11 archaic a test with or as if with a touchstone (put it to the touch). Phrases and idioms: at a touch if touched, however lightly (opened at a touch). easy touch sl. a person who readily parts with money. finishing touch (or touches) the final details completing and enhancing a piece of work etc. get (or put) in (or into) touch with come or cause to come into communication with; contact. in touch (often foll. by with) 1 in communication (we're still in touch after all these years). 2 up to date, esp. regarding news etc. (keeps in touch with events). 3 aware, conscious, empathetic (not in touch with her own feelings). keep in touch (often foll. by with) 1 remain informed (kept in touch with the latest developments). 2 continue correspondence, a friendship, etc. lose touch (often foll. by with) 1 cease to be informed. 2 cease to correspond with or be in contact with another person. lose one's touch not show one's customary skill. the Nelson touch a masterly or sympathetic approach to a problem (from Horatio Nelson, Admiral at Trafalgar). out of touch (often foll. by with) 1 not in correspondence. 2 not up to date or modern. 3 lacking in awareness or sympathy (out of touch with his son's beliefs). personal touch a characteristic or individual approach to a situation. soft touch = easy touch (see TOUCH). to the touch when touched (was cold to the touch). touch-and-go uncertain regarding a result; risky (it was touch-and-go whether we'd catch the train). touch at (of a ship) call at (a port etc.). touch bottom 1 reach the bottom of water with one's feet. 2 be at the lowest or worst point. 3 be in possession of the full facts. touch down 1 Rugby Football & Amer. Football touch the ground with the ball behind one's own or the opponent's goal. 2 (of an aircraft) make contact with the ground in landing. touch football US football with touching in place of tackling. touch-hole a small hole in a gun for igniting the charge. touch-in-goal Football each of the four corners enclosed by continuations of the touch-lines and goal-lines. touch-judge Rugby Football a linesman. touch-line (in various sports) either of the lines marking the side boundaries of the pitch. touch-mark the maker's mark on pewter. touch-me-not any of various plants of the genus Impatiens, with ripe seed-capsules jerking open when touched. touch-needle a needle of gold or silver alloy of known composition used as a standard in testing other alloys on a touchstone. touch off 1 represent exactly (in a portrait etc.). 2 explode by touching with a match etc. 3 initiate (a process) suddenly (touched off a run on the pound). touch of nature 1 a natural trait. 2 colloq. an exhibition of human feeling with which others sympathize (from a misinterpretation of Shakesp. Troilus and Cressida III. iii. 169). touch of the sun 1 a slight attack of sunstroke. 2 a little sunlight. touch on (or upon) 1 treat (a subject) briefly, refer to or mention casually. 2 verge on (that touches on impudence). touch-paper paper impregnated with nitre, for firing gunpowder, fireworks, etc. touch the spot colloq. find out or do exactly what was needed. touch-type type without looking at the keys. touch-typing this skill. touch-typist a person who touch-types. touch up 1 give finishing touches to or retouch (a picture, writing, etc.). 2 Brit. sl. a caress so as to excite sexually. b sexually molest. 3 strike (a horse) lightly with a whip. touch wood touch something wooden with the hand to avert ill luck. would not touch with a bargepole see BARGEPOLE. Derivatives: touchable adj. Etymology: ME f. OF tochier, tuchier (v.), touche (n.): prob. imit., imitating a knock

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Touch Touch, v. t. 1. To compare with; of be equal to; -- usually with a negative; as, he held that for good cheer nothing could touch an open fire. [Colloq.] 2. To induce to give or lend; to borrow from; as, to touch one for a loan; hence, to steal from. [Slang]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Touch Touch, n. 1. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040. 2. An act of borrowing or stealing. [Slang] 3. Tallow; -- a plumber's term. [Eng.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Touch Touch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Touched; p. pr. & vb. n. Touching.] [F. toucher, OF. touchier, tuchier; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. zucchen, zukken, to twitch, pluck, draw, G. zukken, zukken, v. intens. fr. OHG. ziohan to draw, G. ziehen, akin to E. tug. See Tuck, v. t., Tug, and cf. Tocsin, Toccata.] 1. To come in contact with; to hit or strike lightly against; to extend the hand, foot, or the like, so as to reach or rest on. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. --Milton. 2. To perceive by the sense of feeling. Nothing but body can be touched or touch. --Greech. 3. To come to; to reach; to attain to. The god, vindictive, doomed them never more- Ah, men unblessed! -- to touch their natal shore. --Pope. 4. To try; to prove, as with a touchstone. [Obs.] Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed. --Shak. 5. To relate to; to concern; to affect. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone. --Shak. 6. To handle, speak of, or deal with; to treat of. Storial thing that toucheth gentilesse. --Chaucer. 7. To meddle or interfere with; as, I have not touched the books. --Pope. 8. To affect the senses or the sensibility of; to move; to melt; to soften. What of sweet before Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this and harsh. --Milton. The tender sire was touched with what he said. --Addison. 9. To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush. The lines, though touched but faintly, are drawn right. --Pope. 10. To infect; to affect slightly. --Bacon. 11. To make an impression on; to have effect upon. Its face . . . so hard that a file will not touch it. --Moxon. 12. To strike; to manipulate; to play on; as, to touch an instrument of music. [They] touched their golden harps. --Milton. 13. To perform, as a tune; to play. A person is the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet. --Sir W. Scott. 14. To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly. `` No decree of mine, . . . [to] touch with lightest moment of impulse his free will,'' --Milton. 15. To harm, afflict, or distress. Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee. --Gen. xxvi. 28, 29. 16. To affect with insanity, especially in a slight degree; to make partially insane; -- rarely used except in the past participle. She feared his head was a little touched. --Ld. Lytton. 17. (Geom.) To be tangent to. See Tangent, a. 18. To lay a hand upon for curing disease. To touch a sail (Naut.), to bring it so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes. To touch the wind (Naut.), to keep the ship as near the wind as possible. To touch up, to repair; to improve by touches or emendation.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Touch Touch, v. i. 1. To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only at points. --Johnson. 2. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression. [R.] Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver. --Bacon. 3. To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; -- often with on or upon. If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately quitted it. --Addison. 4. (Naut) To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes. To touch and go (Naut.), to touch bottom lightly and without damage, as a vessel in motion. To touch at, to come or go to, without tarrying; as, the ship touched at Lisbon. To touch on or upon, to come or go to for a short time. [R.] I made a little voyage round the lake, and touched on the several towns that lie on its coasts. --Addison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Touch Touch, n. [Cf. F. touche. See Touch, v. ] 1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact. Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting. --Shak. 2. (Physiol.) The sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin is recognized; the sense by which the properties of bodies are determined by contact; the tactile sense. See Tactile sense, under Tactile. The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. --Pope. Note: Pure tactile feelings are necessarily rare, since temperature sensations and muscular sensations are more or less combined with them. The organs of touch are found chiefly in the epidermis of the skin and certain underlying nervous structures. 3. Act or power of exciting emotion. Not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us. --Shak. 4. An emotion or affection. A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy. --Hooker. 5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.] Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. --Bacon. 6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence, animadversion; censure; reproof. I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret. --Eikon Basilike. 7. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture. Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design. --Dryden. 8. Feature; lineament; trait. Of many faces, eyes, and hearts, To have the touches dearest prized. --Shak. 9. The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the plural, musical notes. Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. --Shak. 10. A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash. Eyes La touch of Sir Peter Lely in them. --Hazlitt. Madam, I have a touch of your condition. --Shak. 11. A hint; a suggestion; slight notice. A small touch will put him in mind of them. --Bacon. 12. A slight and brief essay. [Colloq.] Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch. --Swift. 13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone. [Obs.] `` Now do I play the touch.'' --Shak. A neat new monument of touch and alabaster. --Fuller. 14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality. Equity, the true touch of all laws. --Carew. Friends of noble touch . --Shak. 15. (Mus.) The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as, a heavy touch, or a light touch; also, the manner of touching, striking, or pressing the keys of a piano; as, a legato touch; a staccato touch. 16. (Shipbilding) The broadest part of a plank worked top and but (see Top and but, under Top, n.), or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters. --J. Knowles. 17. (Football) That part of the field which is beyond the line of flags on either side. --Encyc. of Rural Sports. 18. A boys' game; tag. In touch (Football), outside of bounds. --T. Hughes. To be in touch, to be in contact, or in sympathy. To keep touch. (a) To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement [Obs.]; hence, to fulfill duly a function. My mind and senses keep touch and time. --Sir W. Scott. (b) To keep in contact; to maintain connection or sympathy; -- with with or of. Touch and go, a phrase descriptive of a narrow escape. True as touch (i. e., touchstone), quite true. [Obs.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(touches, touching, touched) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you touch something, you put your hand onto it in order to feel it or to make contact with it. Her tiny hands gently touched my face... The virus is not passed on through touching or shaking hands. VERB: V n, V-ing • Touch is also a noun. Sometimes even a light touch on the face is enough to trigger off this pain. N-COUNT: usu sing 2. If two things are touching, or if one thing touches another, or if you touch two things, their surfaces come into contact with each other. Their knees were touching ... A cyclist crashed when he touched wheels with another rider... If my arm touches the wall, it has to be washed again... In some countries people stand close enough to touch elbows... He touched the cow's side with his stick. V-RECIP: pl-n V, V pl-n with n, V n, V pl-n, V n with n 3. Your sense of touch is your ability to tell what something is like when you feel it with your hands. The evidence suggests that our sense of touch is programmed to diminish with age. 4. To touch something means to strike it, usually quite gently. As the aeroplane went down the runway the wing touched a pile of rubble. VERB: V n 5. If something has not been touched, nobody has dealt with it or taken care of it. When John began to restore the house in the 1960s, nothing had been touched for 40 years. VERB: usu passive, with brd-neg, be V-ed 6. If you say that you did not touch someone or something, you are emphasizing that you did not attack, harm or destroy them, especially when you have been accused of doing so. Pearce remained adamant, saying 'I didn't touch him'... I was in the garden. I never touched the sandwiches. VERB: with brd-neg, V n, V n [emphasis] 7. You say that you never touch something or that you have not touched something for a long time to emphasize that you never use it, or you have not used it for a long time. He doesn't drink much and doesn't touch drugs... VERB: no passive, with brd-neg, V n [emphasis] 8. If you touch on a particular subject or problem, you mention it or write briefly about it. The film touches on these issues, but only superficially... VERB: V on/upon n 9. If something touches you, it affects you in some way for a short time. ...a guilt that in some sense touches everyone... VERB: V n 10. If something that someone says or does touches you, it affects you emotionally, often because you see that they are suffering a lot or that they are being very kind. It has touched me deeply to see how these people live... Her enthusiasm touched me. = move VERB: it V n to-inf, V n • touched I was touched to find that he regards me as engaging... ADJ: v-link ADJ 11. If something is touched with a particular quality, it has a certain amount of that quality. (WRITTEN) His crinkly hair was touched with grey... The boy was touched with genius. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed with n, be V-ed with n 12. If you say about someone that nobody can touch him or her for a particular thing, you mean that he or she is much better at it than anyone else. No one can touch these girls for professionalism. VERB: no cont, no passive, with brd-neg, V n for n, also V n 13. To touch a particular level, amount, or score, especially a high one, means to reach it. (mainly BRIT) By the third lap Kinkead had touched 289 m.p.h. VERB: no passive, V n 14. A touch is a detail which is added to something to improve it. They called the event 'a tribute to heroes', which was a nice touch... N-COUNT: supp N 15. If someone has a particular kind of touch, they have a particular way of doing something. The dishes he produces all have a personal touch... N-SING: with supp 16. A touch of something is a very small amount of it. She thought she just had a touch of flu... QUANT: QUANT of n-uncount 17. You can use a touch to mean slightly or to a small extent, especially in order to make something you say seem less extreme. For example, if you say that something is a touch expensive, you might really think that it is very expensive. (mainly BRIT) We were all a touch uneasy, I think... I found it a touch distasteful. = a bit PHRASE: PHR adj/adv/prep [vagueness] 18. see also touching 19. You use at the touch of in expressions such as at the touch of a button and at the touch of a key to indicate that something is possible by simply touching a switch or one of the keys of a keyboard. Staff will be able to trace calls at the touch of a button. PHRASE: PHR n, usu PHR after v 20. If you say that someone has the common touch, you mean that they have the natural ability to have a good relationship with ordinary people and be popular with them. PHRASE: usu PHR after v [approval] 21. If you get in touch with someone, you contact them by writing to them or telephoning them. If you are, keep, or stay in touch with them, you write, phone, or visit each other regularly. The organisation would be in touch with him tomorrow... PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, usu PHR with n 22. If you are in touch with a subject or situation, or if someone keeps you in touch with it, you know the latest news or information about it. If you are out of touch with it, you do not know the latest news or information about it. ...keeping the unemployed in touch with the labour market... Mr Cavazos' problem was that he was out of touch. PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, usu PHR with n 23. If you lose touch with someone, you gradually stop writing, telephoning, or visiting them. In my job one tends to lose touch with friends... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n PHR 24. If you lose touch with something, you no longer have the latest news or information about it. Their leaders have lost touch with what is happening in the country. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR with n 25. If you say that something is touch and go, you mean that you are uncertain whether it will happen or succeed. It was touch and go whether we'd go bankrupt. PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR wh 26. If you say that someone is a soft touch or an easy touch, you mean that they can easily be persuaded to lend you money or to do things for you. (INFORMAL) Pamela was an easy touch when she needed some cash. PHRASE: v-link PHR 27. would not touch someone or something with a barge pole: see barge pole the finishing touch: see finish touch wood: see wood

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Hit (lightly), strike against. 2. Perceive by the sense of feeling. 3. Meet, be contiguous to, abut on. 4. Graze, come in contact with (in passing over). 5. Reach, come to, arrive at, attain to. 6. Delineate (lightly), sketch, mark out, touch off. 7. Handle, feel, feel of. 8. Handle, speak of, deal with, treat of slightly. 9. Interfere with, meddle with. 10. Concern, regard, relate to, refer to, pertain to, appertain to, belong to, affect, bear upon, have to do with. 11. Affect, impress, strike, come home to, smite, stir. 12. Affect, move, melt, work upon, soften, strike mentally. 13. Make an impression on, act on, have an effect on. 14. Strike, play on. 15. Perform, play. 16. Distress, hurt, injure, afflict, molest. II. v. n. Meet, hit, be contiguous, be in contact, abut on one another. III. n. 1. Contact. 2. Feeling, tact, sense of feeling. 3. Power of exciting the affections. 4. Emotion, affection. 5. Stroke. 6. Animadversion, censure, reproof. 7. Stroke (with a pen, etc., or on a musical instrument). 8. Tinge, tincture, cast, shade, grain, smack, taste, savor, flavor, spice, dash, sprinkling, seasoning, infusion, little, small quantity, soupçon. 9. Hint, suggestion, slight notice. 10. (Rare.) Test, criterion, touchstone, proof, assay, ordeal. 11. Examination, trial. IV. a. 1. Adhesive, tenacious, cohesive, flexible, without brittleness. 2. Coriaceous, leathery. 3. Viscous, clammy, tenacious, ropy, stringy, sticky. 4. Stiff, rigid, inflexible. 5. Strong, firm, hardy. 6. Refractory, stubborn, obdurate, callous, hard. 7. (Colloq.) Difficult, hard, hard to deal with, troublesome, formidable. 8. (Colloq.) Severe (as a storm), violent.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To touch; to get money from any one; also to arrest. Touched in the wind; broken winded. Touched in the head; insane, crazy. To touch up a woman; to have carnal knowledge of her. Touch bone and whistle; any one having broken wind backwards, according to the vulgar law, may be pinched by any of the company till he has touched bone (i.e. his teeth) and whistled.

Foolish Dictionary

A habit common to the impecunious, causing in its victim a feeling of faintness, followed by a chill or a sense of loss.

Moby Thesaurus

ESP, Roman candle, ability, abut, access, adjoin, adroitness, affect, aid to navigation, alarm, alight, allegory, allude to, allusion, amber light, amount to, answer, answer to, appertain to, apply, apply to, apprehend, approach, arcane meaning, arouse, art, assumption, attouchement, background, background detail, balance, balefire, be aware of, be conscious of, be sensible of, beacon, beacon fire, beak, bear on, bear upon, beat the drum, beautify, beg, begin, bell, bell buoy, belong to, bit, blinker, blow, blue peter, border, borrow, break even, bring in, bring up, brush, brush by, bum, bunt, buoy, butt, cadge, cantando, capability, caress, carry, cast, cause, caution light, characteristic, chromesthesia, chuck, color hearing, coloration, coloring, come home to, come in contact, come near, come to, come together, come up to, commerce, communicate, communication, communion, compare with, concern, congress, connect, connection, connotation, consume, contact, contingence, conversation, converse, correspond, correspond to, correspondence, cover, dab, dash, deal with, dealing, dealings, decorative composition, decorative style, deftness, demilegato, design, detail, detonate, dexterity, dip, disturb, ditto, draw, drink, drop, eat, employ, enhance, equal, even, even off, examine, exchange, exchange colors, excite, execution, experience, expertise, expression, facility, feel, feel of, feeling, figure, fillip, finger, fingering, fire, five senses, flag, flag down, flair, flare, flash, flick, flip, flirt, float a loan, fog bell, fog signal, fog whistle, foghorn, foil, foment, fondle, foreground detail, form, genius, get, get a loan, get on credit, get to, gift, give a signal, give rise to, give the nod, glance, gleam, glissando, go deep, go light, go through one, gong buoy, graze, green light, grieve, hail, hail and speak, half-mast, hand, handle, hang, have connection with, hear, hearing, heliograph, high sign, hint, hit, hit one for, hit up, hoist a banner, idea, ignite, impassion, impinge, impingement, impingence, implication, implied meaning, import, impress, inference, influence, information, infusion, initiate, inkling, innuendo, inspect, inspire, instigate, interaction, interchange, intercommunication, intercommunion, intercourse, interest, interfere with, international alphabet flag, international numeral pennant, interplay, intimation, intonation, investigate, involve, ironic suggestion, join, jot, junction, keep pace with, kick, kiss, knack, knot, land, larceny, leer, legato, liaise with, lick, lift, light, line, linguistic intercourse, link with, look, make a sign, make use of, manner, march, marker beacon, match, match up with, meaning, measure up, measure up to, meddle with, meet, melt, melt the heart, mention, message, metaphorical sense, method, mezzo staccato, mooch, motif, move, movement, music-making, national style, negotiate a loan, neighbor, nod, nuance, nudge, occult meaning, odor, operation, ornamental motif, osculate, osculation, overtone, palm, palpate, palpation, panhandle, parachute flare, parallel, parlando, partake of, pass the hat, pat, patch up, pattern, paw, pawn, peck, penetrate, perceive, performance, period style, pertain to, phonism, photism, pianism, pick, pierce, pilot flag, pinch, pizzicato, ply, poke, poke at, police whistle, presumption, presupposition, probe, prod, provoke, purloining, put, put to use, quarantine flag, quicken, radio beacon, raise, raise a cry, raise money, rap, reach, receptor, red flag, red light, refer to, regard, relate to, rendering, rendition, renovate, repeated figure, repercussion, reply, respect, respond, respond to stimuli, response, responsiveness, retouch, rival, rocket, rub, rubato, run abreast, run into debt, run to, sadden, sailing aid, salute, sauce, scent, scintilla, scrape, scrounge, scrutinize, seasoning, see, semaphore, semaphore flag, semaphore telegraph, sense, sense organ, senses, sensillum, sensorium, sensory organ, set, set in motion, set off, setting, shade, shadow, shave, sideswipe, sight, sign, signal, signal beacon, signal bell, signal fire, signal flag, signal gong, signal gun, signal lamp, signal light, signal mast, signal post, signal rocket, signal shot, signal siren, signal tower, signalize, signature, sip, sixth sense, skill, skim, skirt, slur, smack, smart, smattering, smell, snap, social intercourse, soften, sound an alarm, sound the trumpet, soupcon, spar buoy, spark, speak, speaking, speck, speech, speech circuit, speech situation, spiccato, spice, spot, sprinkling, spruce up, squeak by, staccato, stack up with, start, steal, stealage, stealing, stimulate, sting, stir, stop light, streak, strike, stroke, style, subsense, subsidiary sense, suggestion, sup, supposition, suspicion, sway, symbolism, synesthesia, tactility, taction, taint, take, take advantage of, talent, talking, tangency, tap, taste, technique, telepathy, tempering, tentative contact, texture, the nod, the wink, theme, thievery, thieving, thought, thumb, tickle, tie, tie in with, tinct, tincture, tinge, tint, tip, titivate, touch a chord, touch down, touch off, touch on, touch up, touch upon, touching, toy with, trace, traffic, traffic light, traffic signal, treat of, trick, trigger, truck, twiddle, two-way communication, undercurrent, undermeaning, undertone, unfurl a flag, use, verge, verge on, vestige, watch fire, wave, wave a flag, wave the hand, way, whiff, whisk, white flag, wield, wigwag, wigwag flag, wink, yellow flag