Main Entry: ¹touch

Pronunciation: \ˈtəch\

Function: 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 feelingintransitive 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

— 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>