touch

1 of 2

verb

ˈtəch 

touched; touching; touches

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

ˈtə-chə-bəl 

adjective

toucher noun

touch

2 of 2

noun

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

Phrases

touch base

: to come in contact or communication

coming in from the cold to touch base with civilization

—Carla Hunt

a touch

: somewhat, rather

aimed a touch too low and missed

Synonyms

Verb

• feel

Noun

• communication
• contact
• hold

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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

Rather than draw the lines clearly, there's a suggestion at the end of this breadcrumb of this book that has been used and touched on through the last 40 years. —Jeff Conway, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

With a rare combination of strength, balance, endurance, smarts, and touch for the snow, Shiffrin has rarely DNFed—ski racing lingo for did not finish. —Peggy Shinn, Outside Online, 2 Dec. 2024

Noun

This is a bit more permanent, but still with that sentimental touch. —Jamie Gold, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

But wind — unlike engines — can’t be switched on at the touch of a button. —John Leicester, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing touch

• a touch
• a touch of
• common touch
• don't touch that dial
• finishing touch
• get in touch with
• hit/strike/touch a nerve
• in touch
• keep in touch
• kept in touch with
• lose one's touch
• lose touch
• lost touch with reality
• magic touch
• Midas touch
• not touch a drop
• not touch (someone or something) with a bargepole
• not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole
• out of touch
• painful to the touch
• soft touch
• strike/touch a chord in/with
• the common touch
• the Midas touch
• therapeutic touch
• to the touch
• touch all the bases
• touch and go
• touch down
• touch down the ball
• touch every base
• touch football
• touch grass
• touch-me-not
• touch off
• touch on/upon
• touch pad
• touch point
• touch screen
• touch (someone) for (something)
• touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
• touch system
• touch the ball down
• touch-tone
• touch-type
• touch up
• tug/touch one's forelock
• woman's/feminine touch
• wouldn't touch (something) with a 10-foot pole

Kids Definition

touch

1 of 2 verb

ˈtəch 

1

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

2

a

: to be or cause to be in contact with something

b

: to be or come next to

3

: to hit lightly

4

a

: to do harm to

b

: to make use of

never touches meat

5

: to refer to in passing : mention

the report touched upon many important points

6

: to affect the interest of

a matter that touches every parent

7

: to move emotionally

touched by their friend's kindness

touchable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

toucher noun

touch

2 of 2 noun

1

: a light stroke or tap

2

: the act or fact of touching or being touched

3

a

: the special sense by which one is aware of light pressure especially on the skin

soft to the touch

b

: an impression gotten through the sense of touch

the soft touch of silk

4

: a state of contact or communication

keeping in touch with friends

5

: a small amount : trace

a touch of garlic in the salad

Medical Definition

touch

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈtəch 

: 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

2 of 2 noun

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