touch */*/*/

I UK [tʌtʃ] / US verb
Word forms "touch":
present tense I/you/we/they touch he/she/it touches present participle touching past tense touched past participle touched

1) [transitive] to put your hand or part of your body on someone or something

Beth reached out and touched his cheek.

He was careful not to touch the blood.

touch something to something (= move something so that it touches something else):

"Be quiet!" she said, touching her finger to her lips.

He touched the napkin briefly to his chin.

a) to press something in a light way with your finger or foot to make something work

Kate touched a button and the machine whirred into action.

b) to put your hand on someone's body in a sexual way

It was the first time he had touched her.

2) [intransitive/transitive] if two things touch, or if something touches something else, there is no space between them

The chair was so high that his feet couldn't touch the ground.

They stood next to each other, barely touching.

3)

a) [transitive] to affect your emotions, especially so that you feel sad or sympathetic

His comments really touched me.

He was touched by their suffering and offered to help.

touch someone's heart:

The plight of the orphans has touched the hearts of thousands of people.

b) to feel grateful because someone has been very kind to you

I was really touched by the flowers he sent.

Eric was touched by her concern.

4) [transitive] to change or influence someone or something in a positive way

She touched many people's lives through her charity work.

a) [always in negatives] to change something in a way that is noticeable

The old farmhouse has hardly been touched by modern trends.

b) if an expression, especially a smile, touches your lips or eyes, you have it for a short time

A trace of a smile touched her lips.

5) [transitive, always in negatives] to eat or drink a particular thing

She was so upset that she had barely touched her food.

I never touch meat or dairy products.

6) [transitive, usually in negatives] to use something

Don't touch anything of mine while I'm away.

I haven't touched any of the money she left me.

7) [transitive, always in negatives] to work on something

I haven't touched the garden for weeks.

8)

a) [transitive] to deal with a particular subject, situation etc

I wouldn't touch such a difficult piece of work.

b) to deal with or accept someone

Most employers won't touch you if you've got a criminal record.

9) [transitive] to reach a particular amount or level

Police recorded him driving at speeds touching 120 miles per hour.

10) [transitive] to hit or kick a ball in a game

He hardly touched the ball during the game.

11) [transitive, always in negatives] to be as good as someone or something else

He is a great sportsman, but he can't touch his brother.

•

- be touched by something

- touch a nerve

- touch wood

Phrasal verbs:

- touch down

- touch for

- touch off

- touch on

- touch up

- touch upon

See:

bargepole, base I

II UK [tʌtʃ] / US noun
Word forms "touch":
singular touch plural touches

1) [countable, usually singular] the action of putting your hand or part of your body on someone or something

The touch of his hand sent a thrill through her body.

She felt the touch of his lips on her back.

2)

a) [singular] a very small amount of a substance

"Do you want milk in your coffee?" "Just a touch, please."

touch of:

Add a touch of vinegar.

b) a touch slightly

The curtains are a touch on the long side.

Things will be a touch easier next month.

3) [uncountable] the sense that tells you what something feels like, through your skin or when you put your fingers on it

Children's imaginations can be stimulated through sight, touch, and smell.

4) [countable] a small feature that improves something

The flowers in the room were a nice touch.

Lace added a decorative touch to the tablecloth.

5) [singular] a particular quality that someone can add to a situation

personal/feminine/human/professional touch:

The hotel provides good service and the personal touch.

magic touch (= a special and successful quality):

Jane Pickard is the businesswoman with a magic touch.

6) [singular] your ability to do something well

Charlotte has really developed a touch for Mexican cooking.

7) [countable] the action of hitting or kicking a ball

Cusack promptly scored with his first touch.

•

finishing/final touch — something that you add or do to make something complete

The band is putting the finishing touches to their third album.

in touch (with someone) — be in touch (with someone) to see, speak to, or write to someone; get in touch (with someone) to speak or write to someone, especially after you have not spoken to them for a long time; keep/stay in touch (with someone) to continue to write or speak to someone although you do not see them often; put someone in touch with someone to tell someone the name, telephone number etc of a person or organization that can give them information or help

I'll be in touch next week about our trip to Paris.

Are you still in touch with any friends from university?

I must get in touch with the bank and arrange an overdraft.

They moved away five years ago, but we still keep in touch.

keep/stay in close touch (= speak or write to someone often):

We stayed in close touch while they were in Johannesburg.

Maria put me in touch with a great acupuncturist in London.

in touch (with something) — be in touch with something to understand feelings or a situation very well; keep/stay in touch with something to continue to understand and know about a situation or subject

Emma felt she wasn't in touch with her own emotions.

To be successful in business, you must keep in touch with the market.

a soft/an easy touch — informal someone who can be persuaded very easily to do something, for example to give you money

She's a nice woman, but she's not a soft touch.

- find your touch

- lose your touch

- out of touch

- a touch of something

- to the touch

See:

lose