Search results for 'touch':

touch verb (touches, touched, touching) 1 to bring something, such as a hand, into contact, usually lightly, with something else • touched the radiator to check that it was on. 2 a tr & intr to be in physical contact or come into physical contact with, especially lightly • Make sure the seats don't touch the wallpaper; b to bring together in close physical contact • They touched hands under the table. 3 often with negatives a to injure, harm or hurt • It's not my fault, Mum - I never touched him! b to interfere with, move, disturb, etc • Who's been touching my things? c to have dealings with, be associated with or be a party to something • wouldn't touch that kind of job; d to make use of, especially as food or drink • He never touches alcohol; e to use (eg money, etc) • I don't touch the money in that account - it's my holiday money; f to approach in excellence; to be as good as; to compare to • Nobody can touch her at chess. 4 to concern or affect; to make a difference to • It's a matter that touches us all. 5 (usually touch on or upon) to deal with (a matter, subject, etc), especially in passing or not very thoroughly. 6 to affect with pity, sympathy, gratitude, quiet pleasure, etc • The story of his sad life touched her heart. 7 to reach or go as far as, especially temporarily • The temperature touched 100. 8 a (usually touch with) to tinge, taint, mark, modify, etc slightly or delicately • The sky was touched with pink • a love that's touched with sorrow; b to make a usually slight, sometimes harmful, impression, effect, etc on something • Frost had touched the early crop. 9 (often touch in) to mark, draw or paint with light strokes. noun 1 an act of touching or the sensation of being touched. 2 the sense by which the existence, nature, texture and quality of objects can be perceived through physical contact with the hands, feet, skin, lips, etc. 3 the particular texture and qualities of an object as perceived through contact with the hands, etc • the silky touch of the fabric against her skin. 4 a small amount, quantity, distance, etc; a trace or hint • move it left a touch. 5 a slight attack (eg of an illness). 6 a slight stroke or mark. 7 a detail which adds to or complements the general pleasing effect or appearance • The flowers were an elegant touch. 8 a distinctive or characteristic style or manner • need the expert's touch. 9 a musician's individual manner or technique of touching or striking the keys of a keyboard instrument or strings of a string instrument to produce a good tone. 10 an artist's or writer's individual style or manner of working. 11 the ability to respond or behave with sensitivity and sympathy • have a wonderful touch with animals. 12 sport in rugby, etc: the ground outside the touchlines. 13 slang an act of asking for and receiving money from someone as a gift or loan. 14 slang someone who can be persuaded to give or lend money • a soft touch. 15 a test with, or as if with, a touchstone. get in touch (with) to make contact or communicate (with) • They got in touch by letter. in touch (with) 1 in contact, communication, etc (with) • We still keep in touch although we haven't seen each other for 20 years. 2 up to date • keeps in touch with the latest news. 3 aware or conscious (of) • in touch with her inner self. into touch rugby over the touchline. lose one's touch to become unfamiliar or out of practice • I haven't played the piano for ages - I hope I haven't lost my touch. lose touch (with) 1 to be no longer in contact, communication, etc (with) • lost touch with them after they moved house. 2 to be no longer familiar (with) or well-informed (about) • lost touch with what's happening in Bosnia. lose touch with reality to behave in an eccentric, mad, etc way. out of touch (with) 1 not in contact, communication, etc (with) • been out of touch with his brother for years. 2 not up to date (with) • out of touch with the new technology. touch wood 1 to lay a hand on something wooden, or to make as if to do this, eg by patting one's head, in the superstitious belief that this will ward off bad luck. 2 an expression that is used when this is done • Oh! Touch wood! I hope she won't be there. would not touch something with a bargepole see under bargepole.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French tuchier.

touch verb (touches, touched, touching) 1 to bring something, such as a hand, into contact, usually lightly, with something else • touched the radiator to check that it was on. 2 a tr & intr to be in physical contact or come into physical contact with, especially lightly • Make sure the seats don't touch the wallpaper; b to bring together in close physical contact • They touched hands under the table. 3 often with negatives a to injure, harm or hurt • It's not my fault, Mum - I never touched him! b to interfere with, move, disturb, etc • Who's been touching my things? c to have dealings with, be associated with or be a party to something • wouldn't touch that kind of job; d to make use of, especially as food or drink • He never touches alcohol; e to use (eg money, etc) • I don't touch the money in that account - it's my holiday money; f to approach in excellence; to be as good as; to compare to • Nobody can touch her at chess. 4 to concern or affect; to make a difference to • It's a matter that touches us all. 5 (usually touch on or upon) to deal with (a matter, subject, etc), especially in passing or not very thoroughly. 6 to affect with pity, sympathy, gratitude, quiet pleasure, etc • The story of his sad life touched her heart. 7 to reach or go as far as, especially temporarily • The temperature touched 100. 8 a (usually touch with) to tinge, taint, mark, modify, etc slightly or delicately • The sky was touched with pink • a love that's touched with sorrow; b to make a usually slight, sometimes harmful, impression, effect, etc on something • Frost had touched the early crop. 9 (often touch in) to mark, draw or paint with light strokes. noun 1 an act of touching or the sensation of being touched. 2 the sense by which the existence, nature, texture and quality of objects can be perceived through physical contact with the hands, feet, skin, lips, etc. 3 the particular texture and qualities of an object as perceived through contact with the hands, etc • the silky touch of the fabric against her skin. 4 a small amount, quantity, distance, etc; a trace or hint • move it left a touch. 5 a slight attack (eg of an illness). 6 a slight stroke or mark. 7 a detail which adds to or complements the general pleasing effect or appearance • The flowers were an elegant touch. 8 a distinctive or characteristic style or manner • need the expert's touch. 9 a musician's individual manner or technique of touching or striking the keys of a keyboard instrument or strings of a string instrument to produce a good tone. 10 an artist's or writer's individual style or manner of working. 11 the ability to respond or behave with sensitivity and sympathy • have a wonderful touch with animals. 12 sport in rugby, etc: the ground outside the touchlines. 13 slang an act of asking for and receiving money from someone as a gift or loan. 14 slang someone who can be persuaded to give or lend money • a soft touch. 15 a test with, or as if with, a touchstone. get in touch (with) to make contact or communicate (with) • They got in touch by letter. in touch (with) 1 in contact, communication, etc (with) • We still keep in touch although we haven't seen each other for 20 years. 2 up to date • keeps in touch with the latest news. 3 aware or conscious (of) • in touch with her inner self. into touch rugby over the touchline. lose one's touch to become unfamiliar or out of practice • I haven't played the piano for ages - I hope I haven't lost my touch. lose touch (with) 1 to be no longer in contact, communication, etc (with) • lost touch with them after they moved house. 2 to be no longer familiar (with) or well-informed (about) • lost touch with what's happening in Bosnia. lose touch with reality to behave in an eccentric, mad, etc way. out of touch (with) 1 not in contact, communication, etc (with) • been out of touch with his brother for years. 2 not up to date (with) • out of touch with the new technology. touch wood 1 to lay a hand on something wooden, or to make as if to do this, eg by patting one's head, in the superstitious belief that this will ward off bad luck. 2 an expression that is used when this is done • Oh! Touch wood! I hope she won't be there. would not touch something with a bargepole see under bargepole.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French tuchier.

touch verb (touches, touched, touching) 1 to bring something, such as a hand, into contact, usually lightly, with something else • touched the radiator to check that it was on. 2 a tr & intr to be in physical contact or come into physical contact with, especially lightly • Make sure the seats don't touch the wallpaper; b to bring together in close physical contact • They touched hands under the table. 3 often with negatives a to injure, harm or hurt • It's not my fault, Mum - I never touched him! b to interfere with, move, disturb, etc • Who's been touching my things? c to have dealings with, be associated with or be a party to something • wouldn't touch that kind of job; d to make use of, especially as food or drink • He never touches alcohol; e to use (eg money, etc) • I don't touch the money in that account - it's my holiday money; f to approach in excellence; to be as good as; to compare to • Nobody can touch her at chess. 4 to concern or affect; to make a difference to • It's a matter that touches us all. 5 (usually touch on or upon) to deal with (a matter, subject, etc), especially in passing or not very thoroughly. 6 to affect with pity, sympathy, gratitude, quiet pleasure, etc • The story of his sad life touched her heart. 7 to reach or go as far as, especially temporarily • The temperature touched 100. 8 a (usually touch with) to tinge, taint, mark, modify, etc slightly or delicately • The sky was touched with pink • a love that's touched with sorrow; b to make a usually slight, sometimes harmful, impression, effect, etc on something • Frost had touched the early crop. 9 (often touch in) to mark, draw or paint with light strokes. noun 1 an act of touching or the sensation of being touched. 2 the sense by which the existence, nature, texture and quality of objects can be perceived through physical contact with the hands, feet, skin, lips, etc. 3 the particular texture and qualities of an object as perceived through contact with the hands, etc • the silky touch of the fabric against her skin. 4 a small amount, quantity, distance, etc; a trace or hint • move it left a touch. 5 a slight attack (eg of an illness). 6 a slight stroke or mark. 7 a detail which adds to or complements the general pleasing effect or appearance • The flowers were an elegant touch. 8 a distinctive or characteristic style or manner • need the expert's touch. 9 a musician's individual manner or technique of touching or striking the keys of a keyboard instrument or strings of a string instrument to produce a good tone. 10 an artist's or writer's individual style or manner of working. 11 the ability to respond or behave with sensitivity and sympathy • have a wonderful touch with animals. 12 sport in rugby, etc: the ground outside the touchlines. 13 slang an act of asking for and receiving money from someone as a gift or loan. 14 slang someone who can be persuaded to give or lend money • a soft touch. 15 a test with, or as if with, a touchstone. get in touch (with) to make contact or communicate (with) • They got in touch by letter. in touch (with) 1 in contact, communication, etc (with) • We still keep in touch although we haven't seen each other for 20 years. 2 up to date • keeps in touch with the latest news. 3 aware or conscious (of) • in touch with her inner self. into touch rugby over the touchline. lose one's touch to become unfamiliar or out of practice • I haven't played the piano for ages - I hope I haven't lost my touch. lose touch (with) 1 to be no longer in contact, communication, etc (with) • lost touch with them after they moved house. 2 to be no longer familiar (with) or well-informed (about) • lost touch with what's happening in Bosnia. lose touch with reality to behave in an eccentric, mad, etc way. out of touch (with) 1 not in contact, communication, etc (with) • been out of touch with his brother for years. 2 not up to date (with) • out of touch with the new technology. touch wood 1 to lay a hand on something wooden, or to make as if to do this, eg by patting one's head, in the superstitious belief that this will ward off bad luck. 2 an expression that is used when this is done • Oh! Touch wood! I hope she won't be there. would not touch something with a bargepole see under bargepole.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French tuchier.