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 verb1: 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 implement3: to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal4archaic a: to play on (a stringed instrument) b: to perform (a melody) by playing or singing5 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 : affect12 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 strokes14 a: to hurt the feelings of : wound b: to move to sympathetic feelingintransitive verb1 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 contact3: to come close : verge <your actions touch on treason>4: to have a bearing : relate —used with on or upon5 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>