touch

¹touch

verb \ˈtəch\

Definition of TOUCH

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>

— touch·able \ˈtə-chə-bəl\ adjective

— touch·er noun

— touch base

: to come in contact or communication <coming in from the cold to touch base with civilization — Carla Hunt>

Examples of TOUCH

1. Please do not touch the statue.
2. Slowly bend forward and try to touch your toes.
3. He tried to touch the snake with a stick.
4. The top of the Christmas tree almost touches the ceiling.
5. Sparks flew when the wires touched each other.
6. They were standing side-by-side with their shoulders touching.
7. Sparks flew when the wires touched.
8. Their house burned to the ground, but the house next door wasn't touched by the fire.

Origin of TOUCH

Middle English, from Anglo-French tucher, tuchier, from Vulgar Latin *toccare to knock, strike a bell, touch, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TOUCH

Synonyms: feel

Related Words: caress, embrace, finger, fondle, hug, kiss, lip, nose, nudge, nuzzle, paw, rub, stroke; palp, palpate; brush, graze, shave, skim; clasp, clench, cling (to), clutch, grasp, grip, handle, hold, palm; chuck, clap, dab, flick, pat, tag, tap, tip; hit, knock, pound, rap, whack

Near Antonyms: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; underwhelm

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at affect

Rhymes with TOUCH

clutch, crutch, cutch, dutch, Dutch, grutch, hutch, much, scutch, smutch, such