1an act of touching someone or something:her touch on his shoulder was hesitant [mass noun]:expressions of love through words and touch [in singular]:manipulate images on the screen at the touch of a key
[mass noun] the faculty of perception through physical contact, especially with the fingers:reading by touch
[mass noun] a musician’s manner of playing keys or strings.
[mass noun] the manner in which a musical instrument’s keys or strings respond to being played:Viennese instruments with their too delicate touch
a light stroke with a pen, pencil, etc..
2a small amount; a trace:add a touch of vinegarhe retired to bed with a touch of flu
a small distinctive detail or feature:the film’s most inventive touch
3 [in singular] a distinctive manner or method of dealing with something:later he showed a surer political touch
an ability to deal with something successfully:getting caught looks so incompetent, as though we’re losing our touch
4 [in singular] Rugby & Soccer the area beyond the sidelines, out of play:his clearance went directly into touch figurativethe idea was kicked firmly into touch by the authorities
5 [in singular] informal, dated an act of asking for and getting a loan or gift from someone:I only tolerated him because he was good for a touch now and then
6 Bell-ringing a series of changes shorter than a peal.
7 [in singular] archaic a thing that tests the worth or character of something:you must put your fate to the touch
ზმნა
Universal
1come into or be in contact with:he leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor
bring one’s hand or another part of one’s body into contact with:he touched a strand of her hairAndrew touched him on the shoulder
come or bring into mutual contact: [no object]:for a moment their fingers touched [with object]:we touched wheels and nearly came off the road
[with object and adverbial of direction] strike (a ball) lightly in a specified direction:he touched back a cross-field ball
Geometry be tangent to (a curve or surface) at a certain point.
2handle in order to interfere with, alter, or otherwise affect:I didn’t play her records or touch any of her stuff
cause harm to (someone):I’ve got friends who’ll pull strings—nobody will dare touch me
[usually with negative] consume or use (food, drink, money, etc.):the pint by his right hand was hardly touchedin three years I haven’t touched a cent of the money
3affect or concern:a tenth of state companies have been touched by privatization
[with negative] have any dealings with:he was good only for the jobs that nobody else would touch
(of a quality or expression) be or become visible or apparent in:the voice was touched by hysteriaa wry smile touched his lips
4produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in:she was touched by her friend’s loyalty
5 informal reach (a specified level or amount):sales touched twenty grand last year
[usually with negative] be comparable to in quality or excellence:there’s no one who can touch him at lightweight judo
6 (touch someone for) informal ask someone for (money or some other commodity) as a loan or gift:he touched me for his fare
7 (touch something in) chiefly Art lightly mark in features or other details with a brush or pencil.
a touch
to a slight degree; a little:the water was a touch chilly for us
in touch
1in or into communication:ask someone to put you in touch with other carersI’m not much of a one for keeping in touch
2possessing up-to-date knowledge:we need to keep in touch with the latest developments
having an intuitive awareness:you need to be in touch with your feelings
lose touch
1cease to be in communication:I lost touch with him when he joined the Air Force
2cease to be aware or informed:we cannot lose touch with political reality
out of touch
lacking up-to-date knowledge or information:he seems out of touch with recent economic thinking
lacking in awareness or sympathy:we have been betrayed by a government out of touch with our values
to the touch
when touched:the ankle was swollen and painful to the touch
(of a ship) call briefly at (a port):before returning to Denmark, he touched at Sandwich
touch down
1 Rugby touch the ground with the ball behind the opponents' goal line, scoring a try.
American Football score six points by being in possession of the ball behind the opponents' goal line.
2(of an aircraft or spacecraft) land:his plane touched down at Nice airport
touch something off
1cause something to ignite or explode by touching it with a lighted match.
cause something to happen suddenly:there was concern that the move could touch off a trade war
2(of a racehorse) defeat another horse in a race by a short margin:Royal Ballerina was touched off by Intrepidity in the English Oaks
touch on (or upon)
1deal briefly with (a subject) in written or spoken discussion:he touches upon several themes from the last chapter
2come near to being:a self-confident manner touching on the arrogant
touch someone up
British informal caress someone without their consent, for one’s own sexual pleasure:he was sacked after one of his pupils accused him of touching her up
touch something up
make small improvements to something:these paints are handy for touching up small areas on walls or ceilings
