touch

play

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 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

play \ˈtə-chə-bəl\ adjective

—

toucher

noun

— touch base

:to come in contact or communication

coming in from the cold to touch base with civilization
—Carla Hunt

See touch defined for English-language learners

See touch defined for kids

Examples of touch in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of touch from the Web

President Donald Trump touched down in Houston on Tuesday to meet with officials and assess the damage from Hurricane Harvey.

— veronica hilbring, Essence.com, "Tone Deaf: Here's Everything Trump Has Said About Hurricane Harvey," 30 Aug. 2017
Optional: Use a brick or aluminum foil bridge to prop up one side of the skewers so the fish sits right above grill grates without touching them.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "A twist to Labor Day grilling party menus, from cocktails to dessert," 30 Aug. 2017
The ones below the elevated stage, in the normal VIP section, reach over the railings, just to touch him.

— ben baskin, SI.com, "As Floyd Mayweather Goes Out on Top, Conor McGregor Continues To Bask in the Limelight," 28 Aug. 2017
Power’s historic achievement came on an evening when no one could touch Penske’s power four.

— jim ayello, USA TODAY Sports, "Will Power earns 50th career pole to lead Penske qualifying sweep," 26 Aug. 2017
The Sacramento Bee reported in 2008 that investigators opened the case in May 2007 when a Sacramento High School teacher told police a 17-year-old said that Johnson touched her inappropriately.

— darrell smith, sacbee, "Pie guy attorneys plan to release 2007 Kevin Johnson alleged sex assault findings," 18 Aug. 2017
Google Drive is a really good way to create documents that you can then download and send as .docx or .pdf files without touching a laptop.

— mark byrne, GQ, "5 Secrets to Working From Anywhere that Isn't Your Office," 15 Aug. 2017
This issue touches them, their businesses and their reputations and any hypocrisy or failure to deal with it will be open and visible to all.

— staff, The Christian Science Monitor, "Readers write: Sexist memo at Google?," 14 Aug. 2017
As the sun sets on Hollywood beach, fingers and toes touch down on colorful mats atop the warm, golden sand.

— caitlin granfield, South Florida Parenting, "Is your child dreading the school-year stress? Have them do yoga," 2 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'touch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of touch

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

touch Synonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of 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

touch

noun

Definition of touch

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

— a touch

:somewhat, rather

aimed a touch too low and missed

See touch defined for English-language learners

Examples of touch in a Sentence

Blind since birth, she relies on her sense of touch to read braille.
The plate was hot to the touch.

Recent Examples of touch from the Web

Children should be trying to get in touch with their parents [during an emergency].

— rebecca mcbane, South Florida Parenting, "Don't Wait for the Storm: The most important step in a Family Emergency Plan is to make one," 30 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, the National Baptist Convention told me it is aware of Westboro's potential presence and has been in touch with the Cincinnati Police Department.

— byron mccauley, Cincinnati.com, "McCauley: Cincinnati, let's show Westboro Baptist Church what love looks like," 30 Aug. 2017
Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta has stayed in touch with friends affected by Hurricane Harvey on an hourly basis.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Jake Arrieta in contact with Houston-area friends affected by Harvey," 29 Aug. 2017
Lots of wealthy people—celebrities, socialites, Silicon Valley ballers—get routine touch-ups, but politicians in Washington, D.C. have particular needs.

— kaitlin menza, Town & Country, "Is Trump the Driving Force Behind D.C.'s Plastic Surgery Boom?," 23 Aug. 2017
Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 redux is a nice touch-up on the 1960 Rat Pack heist film, with a glittering cast to match.

— yohana desta, HWD, "What to Watch If You Can’t See the Total Solar Eclipse," 21 Aug. 2017
Other down-home touches including a large Boston fern, which is more than 35 years old and a favorite focal point from the back porch.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Food stage shows are an audience favorite tasty ticket," 18 Aug. 2017
The bank has shot back, pointing out that Ireland’s light-touch regime a decade ago helped create one of the worst banking crisis in history.

— peter flanagan, Bloomberg.com, "Dublin's Missing Brexit Bankers Trigger Political Blame Game," 17 Aug. 2017
Beginner 10 lunges 10 jumping jacks 30 toe touchesIntermediate 10 squats 10 push-ups 30 bicycle crunches Advanced 10 burpees 20 mountain climbers 30 high knees This article originally appeared in the September '17 issue.

— michael hainey, Esquire, "The 12-Minute Hotel-Room Workout," 17 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of touch

14th century

touch Synonyms

Synonyms

communication, contact, hold

Related Words

commerce, communion, intercommunication, intercourse

Near Antonyms

abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth; volume; bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus; chunk, hunk, lump, slab

TOUCH Defined for English Language Learners

touch

play

verb

Definition of touch for English Language Learners

: to put your hand, fingers, etc., on someone or something
: to be in contact with (something)
: to change or move (something)

touch

noun

Definition of touch for English Language Learners

: the act of touching someone or something
: the ability to be aware of something physical by touching it : the sense that allows you to feel physical things
: the quality of a thing that is experienced by feeling or touching it

TOUCH Defined for Kids

touch

play

verb \ ˈtəch \

Definition of touch for Students

touched; touching

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

I touched the rabbit's soft fur.

2 :to be or cause to be in contact with something

Lightly touch the paintbrush to your paper.

3 :to hit lightly

Be careful not to touch the walls.

4 :²harm

No one will dare to touch you.

5 :to make use of

She never touches meat.

6 :to refer to in passing

The report touched upon many topics.

7 :to affect the interest of

This matter touches all of us.

8 :to have an influence on

As a teacher, he touched many lives.

9 :to move emotionally

I was touched by your kindness.

touch

noun

Definition of touch for Students

1 :a light stroke or tap

Stop crying. It was only a touch and couldn't have hurt.

2 :the act or fact of touching or being touched

I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder.

3 :the sense by which light pressure on the skin is felt

The substance is soft to the touch.

4 :an impression gotten through the sense of touch

the soft touch of silk

5 :a state of contact or communication

It is important to keep in touch with friends.

6 :a small amount :trace

a touch of humor

7 :a small detail

We put the finishing touches on the decorations.

Medical Dictionary

touch

play

transitive verb \ ˈtəch \

medical Definition of touch

: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

noun

medical Definition of touch

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

Learn More about touch

See words that rhyme with touch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for touch Spanish Central: Translation of touch Nglish: Translation of touch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of touch for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about touch

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touch

Definition of touch

touchable

toucher

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Origin and Etymology of touch

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Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of touch

touch

Definition of touch

Examples of touch in a Sentence

Recent Examples of touch from the Web

First Known Use of touch

touch Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

TOUCH Defined for English Language Learners

touch

Definition of touch for English Language Learners

touch

Definition of touch for English Language Learners

TOUCH Defined for Kids

touch

Definition of touch for Students

touch

Definition of touch for Students

Medical Dictionary

touch

medical Definition of touch

touch

medical Definition of touch

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