Home / Dictionary / Touch

Touch Very Common

Touch has 30 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

the event of something coming in contact with the body

"he longed for the touch of her hand"

"the cooling touch of the night air"

2

the faculty by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body (especially the hands)

"only sight and touch enable us to locate objects in the space around us"

3

a suggestion of some quality

"there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone"

"he detected a ghost of a smile on her face"

4

a distinguishing style

"this room needs a woman's touch"

5

the act of putting two things together with no space between them

"at his touch the room filled with lights"

6

a slight but appreciable amount

"this dish could use a touch of garlic"

7

a communicative interaction

"the pilot made contact with the base"

"he got in touch with his colleagues"

8

a slight attack of illness

"he has a touch of rheumatism"

9

the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan)

"he watched the beggar trying to make a touch"

10

the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin

"she likes the touch of silk on her skin"

"the surface had a greasy feeling"

11

deftness in handling matters

"he has a master's touch"

12

the feel of mechanical action

"this piano has a wonderful touch"

13

An act of touching, especially with the hand or finger.

"She gently touched his shoulder to comfort him after hearing the bad news."

In plain English: Touch is the sense you use to feel things with your skin.

"The cold air gave her skin a sharp touch that made her shiver."

Verb
1

make physical contact with, come in contact with

"Touch the stone for good luck"

"She never touched her husband"

2

perceive via the tactile sense

"Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her"

3

affect emotionally

"A stirring movie"

"I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy"

4

be relevant to

"There were lots of questions referring to her talk"

"My remark pertained to your earlier comments"

5

be in direct physical contact with; make contact

"The two buildings touch"

"Their hands touched"

"The wire must not contact the metal cover"

"The surfaces contact at this point"

6

have an effect upon

"Will the new rules affect me?"

7

deal with; usually used with a form of negation

"I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole"

"The local Mafia won't touch gambling"

8

cause to be in brief contact with

"He touched his toes to the horse's flanks"

9

to extend as far as

"The sunlight reached the wall"

"Can he reach?"

"The chair must not touch the wall"

10

be equal to in quality or ability

"Nothing can rival cotton for durability"

"Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues"

"Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents"

11

tamper with

"Don't touch my CDs!"

12

make a more or less disguised reference to

"He alluded to the problem but did not mention it"

13

comprehend

"He could not touch the meaning of the poem"

14

consume

"She didn't touch her food all night"

15

color lightly

"her greying hair was tinged blond"

"the leaves were tinged red in November"

16

Primarily physical senses.

"The fabric felt so soft that it seemed to melt against my skin."

17

To make physical contact with; to bring the hand, finger or other part of the body into contact with.

"She gently touched his shoulder to let him know she was right beside him."

In plain English: To touch means to make physical contact with something using your hand or another part of your body.

"She gently touched the cat's head before letting it go."

Usage: Use touch when you mean making direct physical contact with an object using your hands or another body part. Avoid confusing this verb with "feel," which describes sensing something rather than physically contacting it.

Example Sentences
"The cold air gave her skin a sharp touch that made her shiver." noun
"She gently touched the cat's head before letting it go." verb
"She gently touched her friend on the shoulder to say hello." verb
"The cold wind made my bare skin tingle with every touch." verb
"You can't judge a book by its cover or make assumptions based on a single touch." verb
Related Terms
sense feeling feel fingers finger contact hand sensation rub hands senses action tactile skin gentle physical five feeling sense five senses sensory
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
contact somatosense exteroception suggestion manner act small indefinite quantity communication attack solicitation perception adeptness tactile property perceive affect change manage touch be compete hint understand consume color
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
brush stroke common touch contact tap hit dig kiss catch handling fingering grope palpation tickle tag lick grazing snuff creepiness cutaneous sensation finishing touch engage touch toe pick up strike finger feel palpate handle skim over snog mouth press get focus on apply involve matter to cover cling rub attach hug border surround lean on strike a blow repercuss tell on redound stimulate process hydrolize tinge queer subject trouble influence slam-dunk reach into upset violate receive henna tincture complexion

Origin

The word "touch" entered English from the Old French verb tochier, which originally meant to knock or strike. It replaced an older native English word that had a similar meaning of running or moving quickly.

Rhyming Words
uch auch tuch buch cuch duch euch such much ouch nuch fauch hauch mauch rauch yauch vouch pouch nouch mouch
Compare
Touch vs