touch

to bring (the hand, finger, etc., or something held) into contact with something: She touched a match to the papers.

to give a slight tap or pat to with the hand, finger, etc.; strike or hit gently or lightly.

to come into or be in contact with.

Geometry. (of a line or surface) to be tangent to.

to be adjacent to or border on.

to come up to; reach; attain.

to attain equality with; compare with (usually used with a negative): a style that cannot touch that of Shakespeare.

to mark by strokes of the brush, pencil, or the like.

to mark or relieve slightly, as with color: a gray dress touched with blue.

to stop at (a place), as a ship: The ship touched shore several times during the cruise.

to treat or affect in some way by contact.

to affect as if by contact; tinge; imbue.

to affect with some feeling or emotion, especially tenderness, pity, gratitude, etc.: Their sufferings touched his heart.

to handle, use, or have to do with in any way (usually used with a negative): She can't touch the money until she's 21.

to eat or drink; consume; taste (usually used with a negative): He won't touch another drink.

to lay hands on, often in a violent manner: Don't you touch this child!

to deal with or treat in speech or writing.

to refer or allude to.

to pertain or relate to: a critic in all matters touching the kitchen.

to be a matter of importance to; make a difference to; affect: This grave decision touches all of us.

Metallurgy. to stamp (metal) as being of standard purity.

Slang. to apply to for money, or succeed in getting money from: He touched me for five dollars.

Slang. to steal from.

Archaic.

to make a stop or a short call at a place, as a ship or those on board (usually followed by at).

the quality of something touched that imparts a sensation: an object with a slimy touch.

a coming into or being in contact.

mental or moral perception, sensitivity, or understanding: He has a marvelous touch in dealing with people.

ability, skill, or dexterity; knack: to lose one's touch.

Fencing. the contact of the point of a foil or épée or the point or edge of the blade of a saber with a specified portion of the opponent's body, counting one point for the scorer.

close communication, agreement, sympathy, or the like: to be out of touch with reality; Let's keep in touch.

a slight stroke or blow.

a slight attack, as of illness or disease: a touch of rheumatism.

a slight added action or effort in doing or completing any piece of work: to provide the finishing touches.

a special detail or feature: The berries macerated in extra virgin olive oil were a nice touch that elevated the custard dessert plate.

manner of execution in artistic work.

the act or manner of touching or fingering a keyboard instrument.

the mode of action of the keys of an instrument, as of a piano or typewriter.

Change Ringing. a partial series of changes on a peal of bells.

a stroke or dash, as with a brush, pencil, or pen.

a slight amount of some quality, attribute, etc.: a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

a slight quantity or degree: a touch of salt.

a distinguishing characteristic or trait: the touch of the master.

quality or kind in general.

an act of testing something.

something that serves as a test; touchstone.

Slang.

Slang. theft.

Metallurgy.

Soccer. the area outside the touchlines.

Rugby. either of the touchlines or the area outside of the touchlines.

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

a gentle push, tap, or caress

a small amount; hint: a touch of sarcasm

a noticeable effect; influence: the house needed a woman's touch

any slight stroke or mark: with a touch of his brush he captured the scene

characteristic manner or style: the artist had a distinctive touch

a detail of some work, esp a literary or artistic work: she added a few finishing touches to the book

a slight attack, as of a disease: a touch of bronchitis

a specific ability or facility: the champion appeared to have lost his touch

the state of being aware of a situation or in contact with someone: to get in touch with someone

the state of being in physical contact

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

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

archaic

a scoring hit in competitive fencing

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

the technique of fingering a keyboard instrument

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

bell-ringing any series of changes where the permutations are fewer in number than for a peal

slang

to come or cause (something) to come into contact with (something else): their hands touched briefly; he touched the match to the fuse

(intr) to be in contact

(tr; usually used with a negative) to take hold of (a person or thing), esp in violence: don't touch the baby!

to be adjacent to (each other): the two properties touch

(tr) to move or disturb by handling: someone's touched my desk

(tr) to have an effect on: the war scarcely touched our town

(tr) to produce an emotional response in: his sad story touched her

(tr) to affect; concern

(tr; usually used with a negative) to partake of, eat, or drink

(tr; usually used with a negative) to handle or deal with: I wouldn't touch that business

(when intr, often foll by on) to allude (to) briefly or in passing: the speech touched on several subjects

(tr) to tinge or tint slightly: brown hair touched with gold

(tr) to spoil or injure slightly: blackfly touched the flowers

(tr) to mark, as with a brush or pen

(tr) to compare to in quality or attainment; equal or match: there's no-one to touch him

(tr) to reach or attain: he touched the high point in his career

(intr) to dock or stop briefly: the ship touches at Tenerife

(tr) slang to ask for a loan or gift of money from

rare

touch base to make contact: See base 1 (def. 26)