tʌtʃ v. & n. --v. 1 tr.
come into or be in
physical contact with (another thing) at
one or
more points. 2 tr. (often foll. by with)
bring the hand etc. into contact with (touched
her arm). 3 a intr. (of
two things etc.) be in or come into contact with one
another (the balls
were touching). b tr. bring (two things) into
mutual contact (they touched hands). 4 tr.
rouse tender or
painful feelings in (was touched by
his appeal). 5 tr.
strike lightly (just touched the
wall with the
back bumper). 6 tr. (usu. with neg.) a
disturb or
harm (don't touch my things). b
have any dealings with (won't touch bricklaying). c
consume;
use up;
make use of (dare
not touch
alcohol;
has not touched her
breakfast;
need not touch
your savings). d cope with; affect;
manage (soap won't touch
this dirt). 7 tr. a deal with (a subject) lightly or in
passing (touched the
matter of
their expenses). b
concern (it touches
you closely). 8 tr. a
reach or
rise as
far as,
esp.
momentarily (the
thermometer touched 90Û). b (usu. with neg.)
approach in
excellence etc. (can't touch
him for style). 9 tr. affect slightly;
modify (pity touched with fear). 10 tr. (as touched adj.) slightly
mad. 11 tr. (often foll. by in) esp. Art mark lightly, put in (features etc.) with a
brush,
pencil, etc. 12 tr. a strike (the keys, strings, etc. of a
musical instrument). b strike the keys or strings of (a piano etc.). 13 tr. (usu. foll. by for) sl.
ask for
and get money etc.
from (a person) as a loan or
gift (touched him for ø5). 14 tr.
injure slightly (blossom touched by frost). 15 tr. Geom. be
tangent to (a curve). --n. 1 the
act or an
instance of
touching, esp. with the
body or hand (felt a touch on my arm). 2 a the
faculty of
perception through physical contact, esp. with the fingers (has no
sense of touch in her
right arm). b the qualities of an
object etc. as perceived in this
way (the
soft touch of silk). 3 a
small amount; a
slight trace (a touch of
salt; a touch of irony). 4 a a musician's
manner of playing keys or strings. b the manner in
which the keys or strings
respond to touch. c an artist's or writer's
style of
workmanship,
writing, etc. (has a
delicate touch). 5 a distinguishing
quality or
trait (a
professional touch). 6 (esp. in pl.) a a
light stroke with a
pen, pencil, etc. b a slight alteration or
improvement (speech
needs a
few touches). 7 =
TAG(2). 8 (prec. by a) slightly (is a touch
too arrogant). 9 sl. a the act of asking for and getting money etc. from a
person. b a person from
whom money etc. is so obtained. 10
Football the
part of the
field outside the
side limits. 11
archaic a test with or as if with a
touchstone (put it to the touch). øat a touch if touched,
however lightly (opened at a touch).
easy touch sl. a person
who readily parts with money. finishing touch (or touches) the
final details completing and enhancing a
piece of
work etc. get (or put) in (or into) touch with come or
cause to come into
communication with; contact. in touch (often foll. by with) 1 in communication (we're still in touch
after all these years). 2 up to date, esp.
regarding news etc. (keeps in touch with events). 3
aware,
conscious, empathetic (not in touch with her
own feelings).
keep in touch (often foll. by with) 1
remain informed (kept in touch with the latest developments). 2
continue correspondence, a
friendship, etc.
lose touch (often foll. by with) 1
cease to be informed. 2 cease to
correspond with or be in contact with another person. lose one's touch not
show one's
customary skill. the
Nelson touch a
masterly or
sympathetic approach to a
problem (from Horatio Nelson,
Admiral at Trafalgar).
out of touch (often foll. by with) 1 not in correspondence. 2 not up to date or
modern. 3
lacking in awareness or
sympathy (out of touch with his son's beliefs).
personal touch a
characteristic or
individual approach to a
situation. soft touch = easy touch (see TOUCH). to the touch
when touched (was
cold to the touch). touch-and-go
uncertain regarding a
result;
risky (it
was touch-and-go
whether we'd
catch the train). touch at (of a ship)
call at (a
port etc.). touch
bottom 1 reach the bottom of
water with one's
feet. 2 be at the lowest or
worst point. 3 be in
possession of the full facts. touch down 1
Rugby Football & Amer. Football touch the ground with the ball
behind one's own or the opponent's
goal. 2 (of an aircraft) make contact with the ground in
landing. touch football US football with touching in
place of tackling. touch-hole a small
hole in a
gun for igniting the
charge. touch-in-goal Football
each of the
four corners enclosed by continuations of the touch-lines and goal-lines. touch-judge Rugby Football a
linesman. touch-line (in
various sports)
either of the lines
marking the side boundaries of the pitch. touch-mark the maker's mark on
pewter. touch-me-not any of various plants of the
genus Impatiens, with
ripe seed-capsules jerking
open when touched. touch-needle a
needle of
gold or
silver alloy of
known composition used as a
standard in testing
other alloys on a touchstone. touch
off 1
represent exactly (in a
portrait etc.). 2
explode by touching with a match etc. 3
initiate (a process) suddenly (touched off a
run on the pound). touch of
nature 1 a
natural trait. 2 colloq. an
exhibition of
human feeling with which others
sympathize (from a misinterpretation of Shakesp. Troilus and Cressida III. iii. 169). touch of the
sun 1 a slight
attack of
sunstroke. 2 a
little sunlight. touch on (or upon) 1
treat (a subject) briefly,
refer to or
mention casually. 2 verge on (that touches on impudence). touch-paper
paper impregnated with
nitre, for
firing gunpowder, fireworks, etc. touch the
spot colloq.
find out or do exactly
what was needed. touch-type
type without looking at the keys. touch-typing this skill. touch-typist a person who touch-types. touch up 1
give finishing touches to or
retouch (a
picture, writing, etc.). 2
Brit. sl. a
caress so as to
excite sexually. b sexually
molest. 3 strike (a horse) lightly with a
whip. touch
wood touch
something wooden with the hand to
avert ill luck.
would not touch with a
bargepole see BARGEPOLE. øøtouchable adj. [ME f. OF tochier, tuchier (v.), touche (n.): prob. imit., imitating a knock]