TOUCH

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French tucher, tuchier, from Vulgar Latin *toccare to knock, strike a bell, ~, probably of imitative origin Date: 14th century transitive verb 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 , to strike or push lightly especially with the hand or foot or an implement, to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal, 4. archaic to play on (a stringed instrument), to perform (a melody) by playing or singing, 5. to take into the hands or mouth , to put hands upon in any way or degree , to deal with ; become involved with , to induce to give or lend , to cause to be briefly in contact or conjunction with something , 9. a. to meet without overlapping or penetrating ; adjoin , to get to ; reach , to be tangent to, to rival in quality or value , to speak or tell of especially in passing , 11. to relate to ; concern , to have an influence on ; affect , 12. to leave a mark or impression on , to harm slightly by or as if by contact ; taint , blemish , to give a delicate tint, line, or expression to , to get a hit off or score a run against , to draw or delineate with light strokes, 14. to hurt the feelings of ; wound , to move to sympathetic feeling, intransitive verb 1. to feel something with a body part (as the hand or foot), to lay hand or finger on a person to cure disease (as scrofula), to be in contact, to come close ; verge , to have a bearing ; relate , 5. to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by water , to treat a topic in a brief or casual manner, see: affect ~able adjective ~er noun II. noun Date: 14th century 1. a light stroke, tap, or push, a hit against an opponent in fencing, the act or fact of ~ing, the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived, mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness, or tact , a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors ; feel , 6. the act of rubbing gold or silver on a ~stone to test its quality, test , trial , 7. a visible effect ; mark , weakness , defect , something slight of its kind: as, a light attack , a small quantity or indication ; hint , a transient emotion , a near approach ; close call , 9. the playing of an instrument (as a lute or piano) with the fingers, particular action of a keyboard with reference to the resistance of its keys to pressure , control of the hands: as, a manner or method of ~ing or striking especially the keys of a keyboard instrument, ability to precisely control the path and speed of a shot or pass , a set of changes in change ringing that is less than a peal, 12. an effective and subtle detail , distinctive and often effective manner or method , a characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality, an act of soliciting or getting a gift or loan, the state or fact of being in contact or communication or of having awareness , the area outside of the ~lines in soccer or outside of and including the ~lines in rugby