/ tʌtʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
WITH HAND / PART OF BODY
1.
[ vn ] to put your hand or another part of your body onto sb/sth :
Don't touch that plate—it's hot!
Can you touch your toes? (= bend and reach them with your hands)
I touched him lightly on the arm.
He has hardly touched the ball all game.
( figurative )
I must do some more work on that article—I haven't touched it all week.
NO SPACE BETWEEN
2.
( of two or more things, surfaces, etc. ) to be or come so close together that there is no space between :
[ v ]
Make sure the wires don't touch.
[ vn ]
Don't let your coat touch the wet paint.
His coat was so long it was almost touching the floor.
MOVE STH / HIT SB
3.
[ vn ] (often in negative sentences) to move sth, especially in such a way that you damage it; to hit or harm sb :
I told you not to touch my things.
He said I kicked him, but I never touched him!
EAT / DRINK / USE
4.
[ vn ] (usually in negative sentences) to eat, drink or use sth :
You've hardly touched your food.
He hasn't touched the money his aunt left him.
AFFECT SB / STH
5.
to make sb feel upset or sympathetic :
[ vn ]
Her story touched us all deeply.
[also vn to inf ]
6.
[ vn ] ( old-fashioned or formal ) to affect or concern sb/sth :
These are issues that touch us all.
EQUAL SB
7.
[ vn ] (usually in negative sentences) to be as good as sb in skill, quality, etc. :
No one can touch him when it comes to interior design.
REACH LEVEL
8.
[ vn ] to reach a particular level, etc. :
The speedometer was touching 90.
BE INVOLVED WITH
9.
[ vn ] to become connected with or work with a situation or person :
Everything she touches turns to disaster.
His last two movies have been complete flops and now no studio will touch him.
OF SMILE
10.
[ vn ] to be seen on sb's face for a short time :
A smile touched the corners of his mouth.
•
IDIOMS
- be touched with sth
- not touch sb/sth with a bargepole
- touch base (with sb)
- touch bottom
- touch wood
—more at chord , forelock , hair , nerve noun , raw noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- touch down
- touch sb for sth
- touch sth off
- touch on / upon sth
- touch sb up
- touch sth up
■ noun
SENSE
1.
[ U ] the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them :
the sense of touch
WITH HAND / PART OF BODY
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] an act of putting your hand or another part of your body onto sb/sth :
The gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder made her jump.
All this information is readily available at the touch of a button (= by simply pressing a button) .
This type of engraving requires a delicate touch.
WAY STH FEELS
3.
[ sing. ] the way that sth feels when you put your hand or fingers on it or when it comes into contact with your body :
The body was cold to the touch .
material with a smooth silky touch
He could not bear the touch of clothing on his sunburnt skin.
SMALL DETAIL
4.
[ C ] a small detail that is added to sth in order to improve it or make it complete :
I spent the morning putting the finishing touches to the report.
Meeting them at the airport was a nice touch.
WAY OF DOING STH
5.
[ sing. ] a way or style of doing sth :
She prefers to answer any fan mail herself for a more personal touch.
Computer graphics will give your presentation the professional touch.
He couldn't find his magic touch with the ball today (= he didn't play well) .
This meal is awful. I think I'm losing my touch (= my ability to do sth) .
SMALL AMOUNT
6.
[ C , usually sing. ] touch of sth a very small amount
SYN trace :
There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
SLIGHTLY
7.
a touch [ sing. ] slightly; a little :
The music was a touch too loud for my liking.
IN FOOTBALL / RUGBY
8.
[ U ] the area outside the lines that mark the sides of the playing field :
He kicked the ball into touch.
•
IDIOMS
- be, get, keep, etc. in touch (with sb)
- be, keep, etc. in touch (with sth)
- be out of touch (with sb)
- be, become, etc. out of touch (with sth)
- an easy / a soft touch
- lose touch (with sb/sth)
—more at common adjective , light adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : the verb from Old French tochier , probably from a Romance word of imitative origin; the noun originally from Old French touche , later (in certain senses) directly from the verb.