[touch] vb [ME, fr. OF tuchier, fr. (assumed) VL toccare to knock, strike a bell, touch, prob. of imit. origin] vt (14c) 1: to bring a bodily part into contact with esp. so as to perceive through the tactile sense: handle or feel gently usu. with the intent to understand or appreciate "loved to ~ the soft silk"
2: to strike or push lightly esp. with the hand or foot or an implement
3: to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal
4. archaic a: to play on (a stringed instrument) b: to perform (a melody) by playing or singing
5. a: to take into the hands or mouth "never ~es alcohol" b: to put hands upon in any way or degree "don't ~ anything before the police come"; esp: to commit violence upon "swears he never ~ed the child"
6: to deal with: become involved with "a sticky situation and I wouldn't ~ it with a 10-foot pole" 7: to induce to give or lend "~ed him for ten dollars" 8: to cause to be briefly in contact or conjunction with something "~ed her spurs to the horse" "~ed his hand to his hat"
9. a (1): to meet without overlapping or penetrating: adjoin (2): to get to: reach "the speedometer needle ~ed 80" b: to be tangent to c: to rival in quality or value "nothing can ~ that cloth for durability" 10: to speak or tell of esp. in passing "barely ~ed the incident in the speech" 11 a: to relate to: concern b: to have an influence on: affect 12 a: to leave a mark or impression on "few reagents will ~ gold"; also: tinge b: to harm slightly by or as if by contact: taint, blemish "fruit ~ed by frost" c: to give a delicate tint, line, or expression to "a smile ~ed her lips" 13: to draw or delineate with light strokes 14 a: to hurt the feelings of: wound b: to move to sympathetic feeling ~ vi 1 a: to feel something with a body part (as the hand or foot) b: to lay hand or finger on a person to cure disease (as scrofula)
2: to be in contact
3: to come close: verge "your actions ~ on treason"
4: to have a bearing: relate--used with on or upon
5. a: to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by water "~ed at several ports" b: to treat a topic in a brief or casual manner--used with on or upon "~ed upon many points" syn see affect -- touch.able adj -- touch.er n -- touch base : to come in contact or communication "coming in from the cold to touch base with civilization --Carla Hunt"
[2]touch n (14c) 1: a light stroke, tap, or push
2: the act or fact of touching
3: the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived
4: mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness, or tact "has a wonderful ~ with children"
5: a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors: feel "the velvety ~ of velour"
6. a: the act of rubbing gold or silver on a touchstone to test its quality b: test, trial--used chiefly in the phrase put to the touch
7. a: a visible effect: mark "a ~ of the tropical sun" b: weakness, defect 8: something slight of its kind: as a: a light attack "a ~ of fever" b: a small quantity or indication: hint "a ~ of spring in the air" c: a transient emotion "a momentary ~ of compunction" d: a near approach: close call "beaten in the championships by a mere ~"
9. a archaic: the playing of an instrument (as a lute or piano) with the fingers; also: musical notes or strains so produced b: particular action of a keyboard with reference to the resistance of its keys to pressure "piano with a stiff ~" 10: control of the hands: as a: a manner or method of touching or striking esp. the keys of a keyboard instrument b: ability to control the distance something (as a ball) is propelled "developed his putting ~" 11: a set of changes in change ringing that is less than a peal 12 a: an effective and subtle detail "applies the finishing ~es to the story" b: distinctive and often effective manner or method "the ~ of a master" c: a characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality 13 slang: an act of soliciting or getting a gift or loan 14: the state or fact of being in contact or communication or of having awareness "lost ~ with her cousin" "let's keep in ~" "out of ~ with modern times" 15: the area outside of the touchlines in soccer or outside of and including the touchlines in rugby -- a touch : somewhat, rather "aimed a touch too low and missed"