Word: touch Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English touchen, tochen, from Old French tochier (“to touch”) (whence Modern French toucher; compare French doublet toquer (“to offend, bother, harass”)), from Vulgar Latin *tuccō (“to knock, strike, offend”), from Frankish *tukkōn (“to knock, strike, touch”), from Proto-Germanic *tukkōną (“to tug, grab, grasp”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to draw, pull, lead”). Largely displaced native Middle English rinen, from Old English hrīnan (whence Modern English rine). Doublet of tuck. Cognates Cognate with Old High German zochhōn, zuhhōn (“to grasp, take, seize, snatch”) (whence German zucken (“to jerk, flinch”)), German Low German tucken, tocken (“to fidget, twitch, pull up, entice, throb, knock, repeatedly tap”), Middle Dutch tocken, tucken (“to touch, entice”) (whence Dutch tokkelen (“to strum, pluck”)), Old English tucian, tūcian (“to disturb, mistreat”) (whence Modern English tuck). Compare also Old High German tokkōn, tockōn (“to abut, collide”). More at tuck. Via Proto-Indo-European *dewk- cognate with English tie, tow, tug, team, Latin dūcō, dux. Pronunciation: /tʌt͡ʃ/, /tɛt͡ʃ/, /tɑt͡ʃ/ 1. An act of touching, especially with the hand or finger. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Suddenly, in the crowd, I felt a touch at my shoulder. 2. The faculty or sense of perception by physical contact. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: With the lights out, she had to rely on touch to find her desk. 3. The style or technique with which one plays a musical instrument. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He performed one of Ravel's piano concertos with a wonderfully light and playful touch. 4. The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a heavy touch, or a light touch 5. A distinguishing feature or characteristic. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Clever touches like this are what make her such a brilliant writer. 6. A little bit; a small amount. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Move it left just a touch and it will be perfect. Example: I'd like to see a touch more enthusiasm in the project. 7. The part of a sports field beyond the touchlines or goal-lines. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He got the ball, and kicked it straight out into touch. 8. A relationship of close communication or understanding. Labels: uncountable Example: He promised to keep in touch while he was away. Example: lose touch 9. The ability to perform a task well; aptitude. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I used to be a great chess player but I've lost my touch. Example: Rovers' hopes of pulling off one of the great European shocks of all time lasted just 10 minutes before Spurs finally found their scoring touch. 10. Act or power of exciting emotion. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: Not alone / The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, / Do strongly speak to us. 11. An emotion or affection. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: a true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy 12. Personal reference or application. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. 13. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design. 14. A brief essay. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch. 15. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: Now do I play the touch. Example: a neat new monument of touch and alabaster 16. Examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: equity, the true touch of all laws Example: friends of noble touch 17. The broadest part of a plank worked top and but, or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Set off the exact Length forward and aftward from the Observation of the rising of the Keel, by Shipwrights called the Touch, or Place where the Keel's upper Part ends to be streight. 18. The children's game of tag. Labels: countable, uncountable 19. A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, i.e. less than 5,040. Labels: countable, uncountable 20. An act of borrowing or stealing something; a request for money. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: But towards evening I got a touch at a cove's suck, and eased him of twenty-two quids and a lil, which I took in the usual manner, when he was entering the inn door. Example: Supposedly Pickle has a line on a group of wealthy donors who were about to make a big drop on Chuy's campaign, now that he is in the runoff. I ask Pickle about the timing of this donation because Crawford and I are about to put the touch on the campaign for another five grand. 21. The extent to which a person is interested or affected; the amount of outlay on something. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: Such was Tim Whiffle on the Sunday, with the addition of a cane to indicate riding, it is true he had long had a penchant to a pair of spurs but did not as yet sport them, although a half crown touch at some livery stables was positively decided upon in his own mind, though hitherto the dread of a fall from a horse had prevented the execution of his magnanimous plan. 22. Tallow. Labels: UK, countable, dated, uncountable 23. Form; standard of performance. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 2019 In the mix: Who's pushing for selection for round seven? Australian Football League, 30 April 2019. Accessed 6 May 2019. Jackson Hately, Isaac Cumming and Nick Shipley have been in great touch in the NEAFL. 24. A disposal of the ball during a game, i.e. a kick or a handball. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 2019 In the mix: Who's pushing for selection for round seven? Australian Football League, 30 April 2019. Accessed 6 May 2019. With just six touches, small forward Daniel Rioli was uncharacteristically quiet against Melbourne, although he did lay five tackles. 25. touch football (a variant of rugby league that does not involve tackling) Labels: Australia, countable, uncountable