tactile

adjective

tac·​tile ˈtak-tᵊl  -ˌtī(-ə)l 

1

: perceptible by touch : tangible

2

: of, relating to, or being the sense of touch

tactilely

ˈtak-tə-lē 

-ˌtī(-ə)l-lē

adverb

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Reach Out and Touch the Meaning of Tactile

Tactile has many relatives in English, from the oft-synonymous tangible to familiar words like intact, tact, tangent, contingent, and even entire. All of these can be traced back to the Latin verb tangere, meaning “to touch.” Tactile was adopted by English speakers in the early 1600s (possibly by way of the French tactile) from the Latin adjective tactilis (“tangible”). In light of tactile having tangere for a touchstone, its dual senses of “perceptible by touch” and “of, relating to, or being the sense of touch” are perfectly sensible. Since the advent of film, television, and, ahem, touchscreens, a new sense also appears to be developing, as tactile is increasingly used to suggest that something visual is particularly evocative or suggestive of a certain texture.

Examples of tactile in a Sentence

He not only had visual difficulties but tactile ones, too—witness his grasping his wife's head and mistaking it for a hat … —Oliver Sacks, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2002

There is a tactile and therefore somatic dimension to stroking the chalk that keeps the artist in constant, responsible and responsive touch with his emerging creation. —Jed Perl, New Republic, 17 June 2002

The keyboard has good tactile feedback, and the touch pad is responsive without being too twitchy. —Bruce Brown, PC Magazine, 20 Feb. 2001

… nothing prepared me for the tactile reality of the original volumes, leaf after carefully written leaf over which his hand had travelled … —Edmund Morris, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 1995

Near midday the heat of the sun bounced up from the bare patches of soil to hit with an almost tactile force. —Edward O. Wilson, Smithsonian, October 1984

The thick brushstrokes give the painting a tactile quality.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe even distribute something tactile that can be shared throughout the community—such as a coffee mug or a running shirt—through clever collaborations with other brands. —Adam Holm, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

The sleek exteriors may wear different colors, but the interiors both feature Bridge of Weir tan leather seats, which feature a completely unique tactile woven finish, and matching black and tan leather trim. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024

Available in oyster or black, the July passport holder is made from smooth, tactile Nappa leather. —Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2024

While e-commerce is important, the in-store experience allows Uniqlo to showcase its fabric innovations and product quality in a tactile way that online shopping cannot replicate. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French, from Latin tactilis, from tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

tactile

adjective

tac·​tile ˈtak-tᵊl 

-ˌtīl

: of, relating to, or used in the sense of touch

Etymology

from French tactile or Latin tactilis, both meaning "capable of being touched or felt," from Latin tangere "to touch" — related to tangent, tangible

Medical Definition

tactile

1 of 2 adjective

tac·​tile ˈtak-tᵊl  -ˌtīl 

1

: of, relating to, mediated by, or affecting the sense of touch

tactile sensations

tactile stimuli

tactile anesthesia

2

: having or being organs or receptors for the sense of touch

tactilely

-ē 

adverb

tactile

2 of 2 noun

: a person whose prevailing mental imagery is tactile rather than visual, auditory, or motor compare audile entry 1, motile entry 2, visualizer