Definition of: touch

(tuch) v.t.
1. To place the hand, finger, etc., in contact with.
2. To be in or come into contact with.
3. To bring into contact with something else.
4. To hit or strike lightly; tap.
5. To lay the hand or hands on.
6. To border on; adjoin.
7. To come to; reach.
8. To attain to; equal.
9. To mark or delineate lightly, as with a brush or pen.
10. To modify by adding fine strokes or lines; retouch.
11. To color slightly: The sun touched the clouds with gold.
12. To affect injuriously; taint: Vegetables touched by frost.
13. To affect by contact; act upon: The drill could not touch the steel.
14. To affect the emotions of; soften; move.
15. To move to anger; irritate.
16. To strike the strings or keys of (a musical instrument); play on.
17. To play (a tune).
18. To relate to; concern: This quarrel touches you.
19. To treat or discuss in passing; deal with.
20. To have to do with, use, or partake of: I will not touch this food.
21. Slang To borrow money from.
22. Slang To steal.
23. Geom. To be tangent to.
24. Obs. To test, as gold with a touchstone.
—v.i.
25. To touch someone or something.
26. To come into or be in contact. See synonyms under REACH.
—to touch at To stop briefly at (a port or place) in the course of a journey or voyage.
—to touch off
1. To cause to explode; detonate; fire.
2. To cause to happen or occur.
—to touch on (or upon)
1. To relate to; concern.
2. To treat briefly or in passing.
—to touch up
1. To strike or prod gently; rouse.
2. To add finishing touches or corrections to.
—noun
1. The act or process of touching or coming in contact with (something).
2. The act or state of being touched.
3. That one of the special senses that gives the impression of contact with external material objects or their impact upon the body. ♦ Collateral adjective: tactile.
4. The sensation conveyed by touching something: a smooth touch.
5. Med. a Examination by feeling; palpation. b Digital examination of the vagina in obstetrics.
6. A stroke; hit; blow: to give a ball a slight touch.
7. A stroke of wit, ridicule, etc.: He felt the touch of her wit.
8. In art, any slight or delicate effort or effect, as of a brush, pen, or chisel; a light stroke or mark: to apply the finishing touches to a painting.
9. Any slight detail or effort given to anything, as to a literary work.
10. The manner or style in which an artist, workman, or author executes his work: a master's touch; a freedom of touch.
11. A trace; tinge; hint; infusion: a touch of irony; a touch of autumn.
12. A slight attack or twinge: a touch of rheumatism; a touch of remorse.
13. A small quantity or dash: to apply a touch of perfume.
14. Close communication, contact, or sympathy: to keep in touch with; to lose touch with.
15. A test; trial: to put something to the touch of proof.
16. Music a In the pianoforte, the resistance made to the fingers by the keys. b The manner in which a player presses the keyboard.
17. In Rugby football and soccer, the ground just outside the touch lines.
18. An official stamp impressed upon ware made of gold, silver, or pewter, to testify to its fineness.
19. Obs. A touchstone, or the method of assaying by the use of a touchstone.
20. Slang A sum of money obtained, usually from a friend or acquaintance, by borrowing or mooching.
21. Slang A request for such a sum of money: to make a touch.
22. Slang A person who is an easy mark for a loan or gift of money: usually with an attributive word: a soft touch; an easy touch. [<OF tochier, tuchier; prob. ult. imit.]
—touch′a·ble adjective
—touch′a·ble·ness noun
—touch′er noun