touch

verb

\ ˈtəch

touched; touching; touches

Definition of touch

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : 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

6a(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

8a : to relate to : concern

b : to have an influence on : affect

9a : to move to sympathetic feeling

b : to hurt the feelings of : wound

10a : 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

1a : 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

4a : 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

touch base

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

touch

noun

Definition of touch (Entry 2 of 2)

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

4a : a light stroke, tap, or push

b : a hit against an opponent in fencing

5a : 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

9a : 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

12a : 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

13a : 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

Other Words from touch Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about touch

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Synonyms for touch

Synonyms: Verb

feel

Synonyms: Noun

communication, contact, hold

Choose the Right Synonym for touch

Verb

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

These topics were touched on in season one, but Keyser tells THR season two digs deeper. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "The Society Season 2: Everything We Know So Far," 9 July 2019 Bill said her mother was deeply touched by one of the stories in the hour-long premiere: a look at Molly’s grandfather, who left his traditional drum with a friend way back in his youth. — Washington Post, "First US children’s series with Alaska Native lead kicks off," 8 July 2019 Bill said her mother was deeply touched by one of the stories in the hour-long premiere: a look at Molly’s grandfather, who left his traditional drum with a friend way back in his youth. — Author: Rachel D'oro, Anchorage Daily News, "First US children’s series with Alaska Native lead to debut next week," 8 July 2019 The Angels have been touched by a stunning number of tragedies in the team’s relatively short history. — NBC News, "Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs dies suddenly, game vs. the Texas Rangers postponed," 1 July 2019 Meghan was clearly touched by how Harry incorporated his mother's legacy into the ring. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle Appears to Have Redesigned Her Engagement Ring," 24 June 2019 He is admired, but not touched, by guests 10 and older who paid $57 apiece to get a close-up glimpse and hear some facts about the world’s fastest land animal. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "For San Diego Zoo visitors, Sundown Summer Safari gives something extra," 22 June 2019 The modern farming industry has already produced rice that photosynthesizes more efficiently, cotton that’s resistant to pests, and lettuce that can grow in warehouses, their tender leaves never touched by the sun. — Sara Harrison, WIRED, "The Midwest's Farms Face an Intense, Crop-Killing Future," 18 June 2019 With a common webcam, the CSAIL team recorded almost 200 objects, including tools, household products, and fabrics being touched by the robot arm over 12,000 times. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "MIT Teaching Robots to Combine Sight and Touch," 17 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The chart that follows gives the names of organizations best suited to the stage of your business, along with how to get in touch with them. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al.com, "Entrepreneurial tool Bham BizHub now available," 10 July 2019 Freemont County officials know the identity of the boy’s parents and human services staff will be in touch with them. — Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, "Newborn boy dropped off at Cañon City fire station under Colorado Safe Haven law," 9 July 2019 The 100th Scottish Cup Final inscription, which The Bhoys won against Dundee United, is a nice vintage touch too. — SI.com, "50 Most Iconic Football Shirts of All Time," 7 July 2019 Small firms that relied on WhatsApp to stay in touch with customers would be cast adrift. — The Economist, "Network effects: July 2020," 4 July 2019 The modern look comes with a nice nostalgic touch: This new venue is called Bosc + Bartlett, in honor of the pear orchards that once thrived right here. — Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, "First Look: Santa Clara Marriott’s airy new Bosc + Bartlett restaurant, lounge," 3 July 2019 Instead, the bookmarks and files that had been in my Chrome menu bar were now available on the Brave menu bar, a very nice touch. — Barbara Krasnoff, The Verge, "How to move from Chrome to another browser," 29 June 2019 Greenery, faux or real, is the finishing touch for creating your own ultimate free-spirited oasis. — Madeleine Bokan, House Beautiful, "This Four-Poster Bed Will Totally Transform Your Bedroom," 27 June 2019 Law enforcement response can help in an emergency situation, and can put victims in touch with people and organizations that offer proper support. — Ramona Sentinel, "Crime Prevention Corner: Domestic abuse comes in many forms," 26 June 2019

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.

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Dictionary Entries near touch

Statistics for touch

Last Updated

12 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for touch

The first known use of touch was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for touch

touch

verb

English Language Learners Definition of touch

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to put your hand, fingers, etc., on someone or something

: to be in contact with (something)

: to change or move (something)

touch

noun

English Language Learners Definition of touch (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

See the full definition for touch in the English Language Learners Dictionary

touch

verb

\ ˈtəch

touched; touching

Kids Definition of touch

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 : harm entry 2 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

Kids Definition of touch (Entry 2 of 2)

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.

touch

transitive verb

\ ˈtəch

Medical Definition of touch

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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)