touch-up

American  

[tuhch-uhp] / ˈtʌtʃˌʌp /

noun

1. an act or instance of touching up.

   Her makeup needed a touch-up.

---

touch up British  

verb

1. to put extra or finishing touches to

2. to enhance, renovate, or falsify by putting extra touches to

   to touch up a photograph

3. to stimulate or rouse as by a tap or light blow

4. slang to touch or caress (someone), esp to arouse sexual feelings

---

noun

1. a renovation or retouching, as of a painting

touch up Idioms  

1. Make minor changes or improvements, as in This wall needs some touching up but not complete repainting. [Early 1700s]

---

Etymology

Origin of touch-up

First recorded in 1880–85; noun use of verb phrase touch up

Example Sentences

But the team doesn’t just apply a flattering touch-up to sickly markets.

From The Wall Street Journal

I was missing the idea of Mom, not the actual human with her thin lips, round cheeks, and dyed blonde hair that needs a touch-up after so many weeks in hiding.

From Literature

By buying the fixtures that featured in the programme, the family plan to keep it as fans remember it, to keep its character, and have gathered all of the wall's paint codes for when they need a touch-up in future.

From BBC

Hovering nearby is an entourage of about half a dozen people, including a makeup artist who’s primed to make Aguilar’s next touch-up.

From Los Angeles Times

She tried not to over-process her hair when she had a relaxer, and would sometimes wait six weeks or two months before getting a touch-up.

From Los Angeles Times