Collins English-English Dictionary

touch [t^tʃ]

1. 1. n the die stamp used to apply this mark hallmark

2. 2. n the sense by which the texture and other qualities of objects can be experienced when they come in contact with a part of the body surface, esp the tips of the fingers

3. 3. n the quality of an object as perceived by this sense; feel; feeling

4. 4. n the act or an instance of something coming into contact with the body

5. 5. n a gentle push, tap, or caress

6. 6. n a small amount; hint

   a touch of sarcasm

7. 7. n a noticeable effect; influence

   the house needed a woman's touch

8. 8. n any slight stroke or mark

   with a touch of his brush he captured the scene

9. 9. n characteristic manner or style

   the artist had a distinctive touch

10. 10. n a detail of some work, esp a literary or artistic work

    she added a few finishing touches to the book

11. 11. n a slight attack, as of a disease

    a touch of bronchitis

12. 12. n a specific ability or facility

    the champion appeared to have lost his touch

13. 13. n the state of being aware of a situation or in contact with someone

    to get in touch with someone

14. 14. n the state of being in physical contact

15. 15. n a trial or test (esp in the phrase put to the touch)

16. 16. n [rugby] [soccer] the area outside the touchlines, beyond which the ball is out of play (esp in the phrase in touch)

17. 17. n [Archaic] an official stamp on metal indicating standard purity

18. 18. n a scoring hit in competitive fencing

19. 19. n an estimate of the amount of gold in an alloy as obtained by use of a touchstone

20. 20. n the technique of fingering a keyboard instrument

21. 21. n the quality of the action of a keyboard instrument with regard to the relative ease with which the keys may be depressed

    this piano has a nice touch

22. 22. n [bell-ringing] any series of changes where the permutations are fewer in number than for a peal

23. 23. n [Slang] the act of asking for money as a loan or gift, often by devious means

24. 24. n the money received in this way

25. 25. n a person asked for money in this way

    he was an easy touch

26. 26. vt. [tr] to cause or permit a part of the body to come into contact with

27. 27. vt. [tr] to tap, feel, or strike, esp with the hand

    don't touch the cake!

28. 28. vt. to come or cause (something) to come into contact with (something else)

    their hands touched briefly

    he touched the match to the fuse

29. 29. vi. [intr] to be in contact

30. 30. vt. [tr; usually used with a negative] to take hold of (a person or thing), esp in violence

    don't touch the baby!

31. 31. vt. to be adjacent to (each other)

    the two properties touch

32. 32. vt. [tr] to move or disturb by handling

    someone's touched my desk

33. 33. vt. [tr] to have an effect on

    the war scarcely touched our town

34. 34. vt. [tr] to produce an emotional response in

    his sad story touched her

35. 35. vt. [tr] to affect; concern

36. 36. vt. [tr; usually used with a negative] to partake of, eat, or drink

37. 37. vt. [tr; usually used with a negative] to handle or deal with

    I wouldn't touch that business

38. 38. vt. [when intr, often foll by on] to allude (to) briefly or in passing

    the speech touched on several subjects

39. 39. vt. [tr] to tinge or tint slightly

    brown hair touched with gold

40. 40. vt. [tr] to spoil or injure slightly

    blackfly touched the flowers

41. 41. vt. [tr] to mark, as with a brush or pen

42. 42. vt. [tr] to compare to in quality or attainment; equal or match

    there's no-one to touch him

43. 43. vt. [tr] to reach or attain

    he touched the high point in his career

44. 44. vi. [intr] to dock or stop briefly

    the ship touches at Tenerife

45. 45. vt. [tr] [Slang] to ask for a loan or gift of money from

46. 46. vt. [rare] to finger (the keys or strings of an instrument)

47. 47. vt. to play (a tune, piece of music, etc) in this way

48. 48. vt. See base

49. 49. vt. See also touchdown touch off touch up

50. 50. vt. [Etymology] C13: from Old French tochier, from Vulgar Latin toccare (unattested) to strike, ring (a bell), probably imitative of a tapping sound