touch-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈtəch-ˌəp 

: an act or instance of touching up

touch up

2 of 2

verb

touched up; touching up; touches up

transitive verb

1

: to improve or perfect by small additional strokes or alterations : fix the minor and usually visible defects or damages of

2

: to stimulate by or as if by a flick of a whip

Examples of touch-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Amazon My favorite flat iron for touch-ups, this was the top overall pick in our Best Hair Straighteners guide. —Kat Merck, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024

For now, the pragmatic solution is to deploy AI technologies in stages, starting with low-risk, high-value activities such as the incremental touch-up work that good brands and ad teams are already doing. —Tal Lev-Ami, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Verb

If stains are still slightly visible, consider masking them with furniture polish on wood cabinets or touching up paint where needed. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024

Editor's tip: Instead of dry shampoo, touch up oily spots with Oribe’s matching mist, which mattifies hair at the roots. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1733, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

touch-up

1 of 2 noun

ˈtəch-ˌəp

: an act or instance of touching up

touch up

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)təch-ˈəp

: to improve by or as if by small changes : fix the little imperfections of