Pronunciations (4)
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/tʌt͡ʃ/
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/tɛt͡ʃ/
Pronunciation notes
- archaic
- dialectal
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/tɑt͡ʃ/
Pronunciation notes
- Appalachia
- obsolete
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tʌt͡ʃ
Verb
Primarily physical senses. To make physical contact with; to bring the hand, finger or other part of the body into contact with.
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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I touched his face softly.
While thus she spake, / She toucht his eye-lashes with libant lip / And breath'd ambrosial odours; […]
Primarily physical senses. To come into (involuntary) contact with; to meet or intersect.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Sitting on the bench, the hem of her skirt touched the ground.
Primarily physical senses. To come into physical contact, or to be in physical contact.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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They stood next to each other, their shoulders touching.
Primarily physical senses. To make physical contact with a thing.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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Please can I have a look, if I promise not to touch?
Primarily physical senses. To physically disturb; to interfere with, molest, or attempt to harm through contact.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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If you touch her, I'll kill you.
Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee.
Primarily physical senses. To make intimate physical contact with a person.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The man was arrested for touching a girl without her consent.
Primarily physical senses. To sexually excite with the fingers; to finger or masturbate.
Usage- Intransitive
- Rare
- Reflexive
- Transitive
- Examples
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Her parents had caught her touching herself when she was fifteen.
Primarily physical senses. To have sexual intercourse with
- Examples
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Tell me the truth, did you touch her?
Primarily physical senses. To cause to be briefly in physical contact with something.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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He quickly touched his knee to the worn marble.
The demonstrator nearly touched the rod on the ball.
More examples (1)
She touched her lips to the glass.
Primarily physical senses. To physically affect in specific ways implied by context.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Frankly, this wood's so strong that sandpaper won't touch it.
Primarily physical senses. To begin to consume, or otherwise use.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Are you all right? You've hardly touched your lunch.
More examples (1)
But Richmond[…]appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw[…]that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.
Primarily physical senses. Of a ship or its passengers: to land, to make a short stop (at).
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Now a certain grand merchant ship once touched at Rokovoko, and its commander — from all accounts, a very stately punctilious gentleman, at least for a sea captain — this commander was invited to the wedding feast of Queequeg's sister, a pretty young princess just turned of ten.
Primarily physical senses. To lay hands on (someone suffering from scrofula) as a form of cure, as formerly practised by English and French monarchs.
Usage- Historical
- Transitive
- Examples
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But in fact the English kings of the seventeenth century usually began to touch from the day of their accession, without waiting for any such consecration.
Primarily physical senses. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression.
Usage- Intransitive
- Obsolete
- Examples
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Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver.
Primarily physical senses. To bring (a sail) so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
Primarily physical senses. To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
Usage- Intransitive
Primarily physical senses. To keep the ship as near (the wind) as possible.
- Examples
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to touch the wind
Primarily non-physical senses. To imbue or endow with a specific quality.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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My grandfather, as many people know, was touched with greatness.
More examples (1)
This year, J. Allen Collier, the artistic director and producer, invited choreographers to create dance pieces exploring the multi-faceted responses to the AIDS crisis. This thematic unity touched the show with additional solemnity and grace.
Primarily non-physical senses. To deal with in speech or writing; to mention briefly, to allude to.
Usage- Archaic
- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Next to sorrow still I may annex such accidents as procure fear; for besides those terrors which I have before touched, […] there is a superstitious fear […] which much trouble many of us.
Primarily non-physical senses. To deal with in speech or writing; briefly to speak or write (on or upon something).
Usage- Intransitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
'Well, but since we have touched upon this business, and for the last time I hope,' continued the doctor, 'there is one point I should like you to understand.[…]'
Primarily non-physical senses. To concern, to have to do with.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Men of Israhell take hede to youreselves what ye entende to do as touchinge these men.
More examples (1)
The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed. They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.
And now it seemed he was engaged in something which touched them closely, but must be hidden from their knowledge.
Primarily non-physical senses. To engage with, to be involved with.
Usage- Transitive
- usually
- with-negation
- Examples
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I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole.
His latest play is so shocking that his publisher wouldn't touch it and his friends almost dumped him.
Primarily non-physical senses. To affect emotionally; to bring about tender or painful feelings in.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend, for if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.
Stefan was touched by the song's message of hope.
Primarily non-physical senses. To affect in a negative way, especially only slightly.
Usage- Dated
- Transitive
- Examples
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He had been drinking over lunch, and was clearly touched.
Primarily non-physical senses. To give royal assent to by touching it with the sceptre.
Usage- Scottish
- Transitive
- Examples
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The bill was finally touched after many hours of deliberation.
Primarily non-physical senses. To obtain money from, usually by borrowing (from a friend).
Usage- Slang
- Transitive
- Examples
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I was running short, so I touched old Bertie for a fiver.
Primarily non-physical senses. To disturb the mental functions of; to make somewhat insane; often followed with "in the head".
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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You must be touched if you think I'm taking your advice.
Primarily non-physical senses. To be on the level of; to approach in excellence or quality.
Usage- Transitive
- in negative constructions
- Examples
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More examples (1)
There was his mistress, Maria Morano. I don't think I've ever seen anything to touch her, and when you work for the screen [as I do] you're apt to have a pretty exacting standard of female beauty.
'Lind Arden was a great genius, one of the greatest tragic actresses in the world. As Lady Macbeth, as Magda, there was no one to touch her.'
Primarily non-physical senses. To come close to; to approach.
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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On Sunday afternoon it was as dark as night, with barely room for two riders abreast on a gradient that touches 20%.
Primarily non-physical senses. To mark (a file or document) as having been modified.
Usage- Transitive
To try; to prove, as with a touchstone.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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I mean to touch your love indeed.
To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush.
- Examples
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The lines, though touched but faintly, are drawn right.
To infect; to affect slightly.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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Hee was touched with great Remorse
To strike; to manipulate; to play on.
- Examples
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to touch an instrument of music
[They] touched their golden harps.
To perform, as a tune; to play.
- Examples
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A person in the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet.
To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly.
- Examples
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No decree of mine,[…][to] touch with lightest moment of impulse his free will.
Noun
An act of touching, especially with the hand or finger.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Suddenly, in the crowd, I felt a touch at my shoulder.
The faculty or sense of perception by physical contact.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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With the lights out, she had to rely on touch to find her desk.
The style or technique with which one plays a musical instrument.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He performed one of Ravel's piano concertos with a wonderfully light and playful touch.
The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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a heavy touch, or a light touch
A distinguishing feature or characteristic.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Clever touches like this are what make her such a brilliant writer.
A little bit; a small amount.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Move it left just a touch and it will be perfect.
I'd like to see a touch more enthusiasm in the project.
More examples (3)
Madam, I have a touch of your condition.
In another example, there are a few touches of white above the eye, and a white postocular stripe, which becomes quite broad where it terminates on the side of the neck.
We had looked forward to four or five days' work in Ying-shan similar to that in Yün-mung, but at the end of our two days' walk from the one city to the other (they lie more than fifty miles apart), Mr. Terrell had a touch of fever, so we judged it best to remain in Ying-shan only for a day and then travel as quickly as possible by chair to Teh-ngan to consult our good friend, Dr. Morley, of the Wesleyan Mission Hospital in that city, and from thence take boat for Hankow....
The part of a sports field beyond the touchlines or goal-lines.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He got the ball, and kicked it straight out into touch.
A relationship of close communication or understanding.
Usage- Uncountable
- in set phrases
- Synonyms
- Examples
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He promised to keep in touch while he was away.
lose touch
The ability to perform a task well; aptitude.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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I used to be a great chess player but I've lost my touch.
Rovers' hopes of pulling off one of the great European shocks of all time lasted just 10 minutes before Spurs finally found their scoring touch.
Act or power of exciting emotion.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Not alone / The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, / Do strongly speak to us.
An emotion or affection.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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a true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy
Personal reference or application.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used.
A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design.
A brief essay.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch.
A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Now do I play the touch.
a neat new monument of touch and alabaster
Examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
- Examples
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equity, the true touch of all laws
friends of noble touch
The broadest part of a plank worked top and but, or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Set off the exact Length forward and aftward from the Observation of the rising of the Keel, by Shipwrights called the Touch, or Place where the Keel's upper Part ends to be streight.
The children's game of tag.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, i.e. less than 5,040.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
An act of borrowing or stealing something; a request for money.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (3)
But towards evening I got a touch at a cove's suck, and eased him of twenty-two quids and a lil, which I took in the usual manner, when he was entering the inn door.
Supposedly Pickle has a line on a group of wealthy donors who were about to make a big drop on Chuy's campaign, now that he is in the runoff. I ask Pickle about the timing of this donation because Crawford and I are about to put the touch on the campaign for another five grand.
Brody would have to pay her, so if all else failed she would have some control. She would have sex on her terms, not his. She would give him the relief he craved, and also relieve him of 500 quid while she was at it. A sweet little touch to keep her ahead of the game.
The extent to which a person is interested or affected; the amount of outlay on something.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Such was Tim Whiffle on the Sunday, with the addition of a cane to indicate riding, it is true he had long had a penchant to a pair of spurs but did not as yet sport them, although a half crown touch at some livery stables was positively decided upon in his own mind, though hitherto the dread of a fall from a horse had prevented the execution of his magnanimous plan.
Tallow.
Usage- UK usage
- Countable
- Dated
- Uncountable
Form; standard of performance.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
2019 In the mix: Who's pushing for selection for round seven? Australian Football League, 30 April 2019. Accessed 6 May 2019. Jackson Hately, Isaac Cumming and Nick Shipley have been in great touch in the NEAFL.
A disposal of the ball during a game, i.e. a kick or a handball.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
2019 In the mix: Who's pushing for selection for round seven? Australian Football League, 30 April 2019. Accessed 6 May 2019. With just six touches, small forward Daniel Rioli was uncharacteristically quiet against Melbourne, although he did lay five tackles.
touch football (a variant of rugby league that does not involve tackling)
Usage- Australia
- Countable
- Uncountable
Noun
the event of something coming in contact with the body
- Synonyms
- Examples
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he longed for the touch of her hand
the cooling touch of the night air
the faculty by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body (especially the hands)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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only sight and touch enable us to locate objects in the space around us
a suggestion of some quality
- Broader terms
- Examples
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there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
he detected a ghost of a smile on her face
a distinguishing style
- Synonyms
- Examples
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this room needs a woman's touch
the act of putting two things together with no space between them
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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at his touch the room filled with lights
a slight but appreciable amount
- Broader terms
- Examples
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this dish could use a touch of garlic
a communicative interaction
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the pilot made contact with the base
he got in touch with his colleagues
a slight attack of illness
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he has a touch of rheumatism
the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan)
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he watched the beggar trying to make a touch
the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin
- Broader terms
- Examples
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she likes the touch of silk on her skin
the surface had a greasy feeling
deftness in handling matters
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he has a master's touch
the feel of mechanical action
- Broader terms
- Examples
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this piano has a wonderful touch
Verb
make physical contact with, come in contact with
- Examples
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Touch the stone for good luck
She never touched her husband
perceive via the tactile sense
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her
affect emotionally
- Synonyms
- Examples
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A stirring movie
I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy
be relevant to
- Examples
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There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
be in direct physical contact with; make contact
- Examples
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The two buildings touch
Their hands touched
More examples (2)
The wire must not contact the metal cover
The surfaces contact at this point
have an effect upon
- Examples
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Will the new rules affect me?
deal with; usually used with a form of negation
- Examples
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I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole
The local Mafia won't touch gambling
cause to be in brief contact with
- Examples
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He touched his toes to the horse's flanks
to extend as far as
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The sunlight reached the wall
Can he reach?
More examples (1)
The chair must not touch the wall
be equal to in quality or ability
- Examples
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Nothing can rival cotton for durability
Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
More examples (1)
Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
tamper with
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Don't touch my CDs!
make a more or less disguised reference to
- Examples
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He alluded to the problem but did not mention it
comprehend
- Broader terms
- Examples
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He could not touch the meaning of the poem
consume
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She didn't touch her food all night
color lightly
- Examples
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her greying hair was tinged blond
the leaves were tinged red in November