touch

1 of 2

verb

ˈtəch 

touched; touching; touches

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

a

: 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

b

: to take into the hands or mouth

never touches alcohol

3

: to strike or push lightly especially with the hand or foot or an implement

4

: to cause to be briefly in contact or conjunction with something

touched her spurs to the horse

touched his hand to his hat

5

: to deal with : become involved with

a sticky situation and I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole

6

a(1)

: to meet without overlapping or penetrating : adjoin

(2)

: to get to : reach

the speedometer needle touched 80

b

: to rival in quality or value

nothing can touch that cloth for durability

c

: to be tangent to

7

: to speak or tell of especially in passing

barely touched the incident in the speech

8

a

: to relate to : concern

b

: to have an influence on : affect

9

a

: to move to sympathetic feeling

b

: to hurt the feelings of : wound

10

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

11

: to draw or delineate with light strokes

12

: to induce to give or lend

touched him for ten dollars

13

: to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal

14

archaic

a

: to play on (a stringed instrument)

b

: to perform (a melody) by playing or singing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to feel something with a body part (such as the hand or foot)

b

: to lay hand or finger on a person to cure disease (such as scrofula)

2

: to be in contact

3

: to come close : verge

your actions touch on treason

4

a

: to treat a topic in a brief or casual manner

—used with on or upon

touched upon many points

b

: to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by water

touched at several ports

5

: to have a bearing : relate

—used with on or upon

touchable

ˈtə-chə-bəl 

adjective

toucher noun

touch

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or fact of touching

also : the act or an instance of handling or controlling a ball (as in basketball or soccer)

2

: the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived

3

: a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors : feel

the velvety touch of velour

4

a

: a light stroke, tap, or push

b

: a hit against an opponent in fencing

5

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

6

: mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness, or tact

has a wonderful touch with children

7

: something slight of its kind: such 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

8

: 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

9

a

: a visible effect : mark

a touch of the tropical sun

b

: weakness, defect

10

: control of the hands: such 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

: the area outside of the touchlines in soccer or outside of and including the touchlines in rugby

the ball went into touch

12

a

: particular action of a keyboard with reference to the resistance of its keys to pressure

piano with a stiff touch

b

archaic : the playing of an instrument (such as a lute or piano) with the fingers

also : musical notes or strains so produced

13

a

: test, trial

—used chiefly in the phrase put to the touch

b

archaic : the act of rubbing gold or silver on a touchstone to test its quality

14

: a set of changes in change ringing that is less than a peal

15

slang : an act of soliciting or getting a gift or loan

Phrases

touch base

: to come in contact or communication

coming in from the cold to touch base with civilization

—Carla Hunt

a touch

: somewhat, rather

aimed a touch too low and missed

Synonyms

Verb

• feel

Noun

• communication
• contact
• hold

Choose the Right Synonym for touch

affect, influence, touch, impress, strike, sway mean to produce or have an effect upon.

affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost

his emotions were touched by her distress

impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

Examples of touch in a Sentence

Verb

Please do not touch the statue.

Slowly bend forward and try to touch your toes.

He tried to touch the snake with a stick.

The top of the Christmas tree almost touches the ceiling.

Sparks flew when the wires touched each other.

They were standing side-by-side with their shoulders touching.

Sparks flew when the wires touched.

Their house burned to the ground, but the house next door wasn't touched by the fire.

Noun

Blind since birth, she relies on her sense of touch to read braille.

The plate was hot to the touch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The push has touched all sectors of society and the highest levels of government and comes as the Southeast Asian nation emerges as a global supply chain hub for companies such as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. The case and others have roiled the nation’s bond, banking and property sectors. —Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024

Low’s sound is solemn, sometimes glacial, with elliptical lyrics that often touch on questions of faith. —Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024

Socha told me he’s been noticing people whose toes don’t touch the ground, and instead are slanted upward. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

While this agreement governs film and television production, SAG-AFTRA touches many different types of productions all around the world, from film and TV to commercials, video games and new media. —Dan Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024

There’s a fear, so often, around anything that touches reproduction. —Jason Kehe, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024

To successfully achieve the record, the challenger’s forearms and toes must touch the ground at all times. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

Its path of totality will touch South America, the Caribbean and 15 U.S. states from California to Georgia, NationalEclipse.com says. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024

His four-seam fastball velocity averaged 96.7 mph and touched 98.3. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2024

Noun

Add a personal touch with a monogram unique to the graduate. $83.30 to $106.96 $119 - $152.80 Etsy Shop Now Mark & Graham Fillmore Vegan Leather Luggage Tag and Passport Case For the graduate heading out on an adventure. —Claire Peltier, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024

Mistral coming for early leaders Mensch also called for a light touch to regulations in Europe, which might explain some of the CEO’s motivations to dismiss AI’s more concerning potential. —Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 12 Apr. 2024

The movie’s most chilling sequence—in a nicely demented touch, Jesse Plemons, Dunst’s offscreen husband, pops up as a murderous psychopath—is also its most dubiously contrived. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024

For the leg circle, bird-dog, and quarter-squat start toe touch, do all your reps on one side, then switch sides and repeat. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 9 Apr. 2024

The center of the dial is decorated in a swirling guilloché pattern that adds a dressy touch to the sporty style, as does the diamond-set bezel. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024

But the source of the touch did matter to newborns. —Joanne Silberner, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

People can call 2-1-1 or fill out this online form to get in touch with a Digital Resource Navigator who will help with enrolling in financial assistance programs. —Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024

Stay in touch and revisit the opportunity at a later stage when conditions may be more favorable. —Andrew Kahl, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing touch

• common touch
• don't touch that dial
• a touch of
• in touch
• hit/strike/touch a nerve
• finishing touch
• keep in touch
• lost touch with reality
• get in touch with
• lose touch
• not touch (someone or something) with a bargepole
• lose one's touch
• not touch a drop
• Midas touch
• soft touch
• magic touch
• the common touch
• not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole
• touch all the bases
• the Midas touch
• therapeutic touch
• touch down
• touch base
• touch and go
• painful to the touch
• strike/touch a chord in/with
• touch down the ball
• touch football
• touch every base
• touch off
• touch-me-not
• touch screen
• touch (someone) for (something)
• touch on/upon
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
• touch pad
• touch the ball down
• touch system
• touch-tone
• woman's/feminine touch
• touch up
• tug/touch one's forelock
• touch-type
• wouldn't touch (something) with a 10-foot pole
• to the touch
• out of touch
• a touch
• kept in touch with

Kids Definition

touch

1 of 2 verb

ˈtəch 

1

: to feel or handle (as with fingers) especially so as to be aware of by the sense of touch

2

a

: to be or cause to be in contact with something

b

: to be or come next to

3

: to hit lightly

4

a

: to do harm to

b

: to make use of

never touches meat

5

: to refer to in passing : mention

the report touched upon many important points

6

: to affect the interest of

a matter that touches every parent

7

: to move emotionally

touched by their friend's kindness

touchable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

toucher noun

touch

2 of 2 noun

1

: a light stroke or tap

2

: the act or fact of touching or being touched

3

a

: the special sense by which one is aware of light pressure especially on the skin

soft to the touch

b

: an impression gotten through the sense of touch

the soft touch of silk

4

: a state of contact or communication

keeping in touch with friends

5

: a small amount : trace

a touch of garlic in the salad

Medical Definition

touch

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈtəch 

: 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

intransitive verb

: to feel something with a body part (as the hand or foot)

touch

2 of 2 noun

1

: the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived

2

: a light attack

a touch of fever