touch
Part of speech: verb
noun
Morphological type: simple
Topics: business
computing
construction
engineering
entertainment
history
human-sciences
lifestyle
manufacturing
mathematics
music
natural-sciences
nautical
physical-sciences
plumbing
sciences
shipbuilding
transport
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.
Inflected forms:
form: touches
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: touching
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: past
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: obsolete
participle
past
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: obsolete
past
form: no-table-tags
pos: verb
tags: table-tags
form: glossary
pos: verb
tags: inflection-template
form: touch
pos: verb
tags: infinitive
form: touch
pos: verb
tags: first-person
present
singular
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: first-person
past
singular
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: archaic
first-person
past
singular
form: touch
pos: verb
tags: present
second-person
singular
form: touchest
pos: verb
tags: archaic
present
second-person
singular
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: past
second-person
singular
form: touchedst
pos: verb
tags: archaic
past
second-person
singular
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: archaic
past
second-person
singular
form: touches
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: toucheth
pos: verb
tags: archaic
present
singular
third-person
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: past
singular
third-person
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: archaic
past
singular
third-person
form: touch
pos: verb
tags: plural
present
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: past
plural
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: archaic
past
plural
form: touch
pos: verb
tags: present
subjunctive
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: past
subjunctive
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: archaic
past
subjunctive
form: touch
pos: verb
tags: imperative
present
form: -
pos: verb
tags: imperative
past
form: touching
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: touched
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: toucht
pos: verb
tags: archaic
participle
past
form: touches
pos: noun
tags: plural
Senses:
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: I touched his face softly.
While thus she spake, / She toucht his eye-lashes with libant lip / And breath'd ambrosial odours; […]
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: Sitting on the bench, the hem of her skirt touched the ground.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
examples: They stood next to each other, their shoulders touching.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
examples: Please can I have a look, if I promise not to touch?
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: If you touch her, I'll kill you.
Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: The man was arrested for touching a girl without her consent.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
rare
reflexive
transitive
examples: Her parents had caught her touching herself when she was fifteen.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
examples: Tell me the truth, did you touch her?
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: He quickly touched his knee to the worn marble.
The demonstrator nearly touched the rod on the ball.
She touched her lips to the glass.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: Frankly, this wood's so strong that sandpaper won't touch it.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: Are you all right? You've hardly touched your lunch.
But Richmond[…]appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw[…]that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
examples: Now a certain grand merchant ship once touched at Rokovoko, and its commander — from all accounts, a very stately punctilious gentleman, at least for a sea captain — this commander was invited to the wedding feast of Queequeg's sister, a pretty young princess just turned of ten.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: historical
transitive
examples: But in fact the English kings of the seventeenth century usually began to touch form the day of their accession, without waiting for any such consecration.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
obsolete
examples: Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver.
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
gloss: Primarily physical senses.
pos: verb
examples: to touch the wind
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: My grandfather, as many people know, was touched with greatness.
This year, J. Allen Collier, the artistic director and producer, invited choreographers to create dance pieces exploring the multi-faceted responses to the AIDS crisis. This thematic unity touched the show with additional solemnity and grace.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: archaic
transitive
examples: Next to sorrow still I may annex such accidents as procure fear; for besides those terrors which I have before touched, […] there is a superstitious fear […] which much trouble many of us.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: intransitive
examples: 'Well, but since we have touched upon this business, and for the last time I hope,' continued the doctor, 'there is one point I should like you to understand.[…]'
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: Men of Israhell take hede to youreselves what ye entende to do as touchinge these men.
The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed. They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.
And now it seemed he was engaged in something which touched them closely, but must be hidden from their knowledge.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
usually
with-negation
examples: I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole.
His latest play is so shocking that his publisher wouldn't touch it and his friends almost dumped him.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent
to offend, for if it touch not you, it comes near
nobody.
Stefan was touched by the song's message of hope.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: dated
transitive
examples: He had been drinking over lunch, and was clearly touched.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: Scottish
transitive
examples: The bill was finally touched after many hours of deliberation.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: slang
transitive
examples: I was running short, so I touched old Bertie for a fiver.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: You must be touched if you think I'm taking your advice.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: There was his mistress, Maria Morano. I don't think I've ever seen anything to touch her, and when you work for the screen [as I do] you're apt to have a pretty exacting standard of female beauty.
'Lind Arden was a great genius, one of the greatest tragic actresses in the world. As Lady Macbeth, as Magda, there was no one to touch her.'
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
examples: On Sunday afternoon it was as dark as night, with barely room for two riders abreast on a gradient that touches 20%.
gloss: Primarily non-physical senses.
pos: verb
tags: transitive
gloss: To try; to prove, as with a touchstone.
pos: verb
examples: I mean to touch your love indeed.
gloss: To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush.
pos: verb
examples: The lines, though touched but faintly, are drawn right.
gloss: To infect; to affect slightly.
pos: verb
tags: obsolete
examples: Hee was touched with great Remorse
gloss: To strike; to manipulate; to play on.
pos: verb
examples: to touch an instrument of music
[They] touched their golden harps.
gloss: To perform, as a tune; to play.
pos: verb
examples: A person in the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet.
gloss: To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly.
pos: verb
examples: No decree of mine,[…][to] touch with lightest moment of impulse his free will.
gloss: An act of touching, especially with the hand or finger.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: Suddenly, in the crowd, I felt a touch at my shoulder.
gloss: The faculty or sense of perception by physical contact.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: With the lights out, she had to rely on touch to find her desk.
gloss: The style or technique with which one plays a musical instrument.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: He performed one of Ravel's piano concertos with a wonderfully light and playful touch.
gloss: The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: a heavy touch, or a light touch
gloss: A distinguishing feature or characteristic.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: Clever touches like this are what make her such a brilliant writer.
gloss: A little bit; a small amount.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: Move it left just a touch and it will be perfect.
I'd like to see a touch more enthusiasm in the project.
Madam, I have a touch of your condition.
In another example, there are a few touches of white above the eye, and a white postocular stripe, which becomes quite broad where it terminates on the side of the neck.
We had looked forward to four or five days' work in Ying-shan similar to that in Yün-mung, but at the end of our two days' walk from the one city to the other (they lie more than fifty miles apart), Mr. Terrell had a touch of fever, so we judged it best to remain in Ying-shan only for a day and then travel as quickly as possible by chair to Teh-ngan to consult our good friend, Dr. Morley, of the Wesleyan Mission Hospital in that city, and from thence take boat for Hankow....
gloss: The part of a sports field beyond the touchlines or goal-lines.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: He got the ball, and kicked it straight out into touch.
gloss: A relationship of close communication or understanding.
pos: noun
tags: uncountable
examples: He promised to keep in touch while he was away.
lose touch
gloss: The ability to perform a task well; aptitude.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: I used to be a great chess player but I've lost my touch.
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.
gloss: Act or power of exciting emotion.
pos: noun
tags: countable
obsolete
uncountable
examples: Not alone / The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, / Do strongly speak to us.
gloss: An emotion or affection.
pos: noun
tags: countable
obsolete
uncountable
examples: a true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy
gloss: Personal reference or application.
pos: noun
tags: countable
obsolete
uncountable
examples: Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used.
gloss: A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design.
gloss: A brief essay.
pos: noun
tags: countable
obsolete
uncountable
examples: Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch.
gloss: A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone.
pos: noun
tags: countable
obsolete
uncountable
examples: Now do I play the touch.
a neat new monument of touch and alabaster
gloss: Examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.
pos: noun
tags: countable
obsolete
uncountable
examples: equity, the true touch of all laws
friends of noble touch
gloss: 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.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: 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.
gloss: The children's game of tag.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
gloss: A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, i.e. less than 5,040.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
gloss: An act of borrowing or stealing something; a request for money.
pos: noun
tags: countable
slang
uncountable
examples: 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.
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.
Brody would have to pay her, so if all else failed she would have some control. She would have sex on her terms, not his. She would give him the relief he craved, and also relieve him of 500 quid while she was at it. A sweet little touch to keep her ahead of the game.
gloss: The extent to which a person is interested or affected; the amount of outlay on something.
pos: noun
tags: countable
slang
uncountable
examples: 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.
gloss: Tallow.
pos: noun
tags: UK
countable
dated
uncountable
gloss: Form; standard of performance.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: 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.
gloss: A disposal of the ball during a game, i.e. a kick or a handball.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: 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.
gloss: touch football (a variant of rugby league that does not involve tackling)
pos: noun
tags: Australia
countable
uncountable
Derived words: because you touch yourself at night
betouch
don't touch that dial
everything one touches turns to gold
everything one touches turns to shit
heart-touching
iTouch
multitouch
not touch something with a barge pole
not touch something with a ten-foot pole
not touch with a barge pole
not touch with a ten-foot pole
touchability
touchable
touch a chord
touch and go
touch-and-go
touch-and-go landing
touch a nerve
touch a raw nerve
touchball
touch base
touch bottom
touchbox
touch cloth
touchdown
touch down
touch 'em all
touch grass
touch in
touching ball
touch labor
touchlogger
touchlogging
touch-me-not
touch-me-not-ish
touch-move rule
touch off
touch on
touch one's forelock
touchous
touch out
touchpad
touch piece
touchpoint
touch some grass
touch someone's hem
touch someone's robe
touch the body
touch the hem of someone's garment
touch the hem of someone's robe
touchtone
touch up
touch upon
touchwood
touch wood
touchy
untouch
within touching distance
wouldn't touch with yours
foretouch
mistouch
aftertouch
a touch
common touch
Dutch touch
finishing touch
first touch
Fonzie touch
get in touch
golden touch
high touch
high-touch
human touch
in touch
kick into touch
kick to touch
light the touch-paper
light touch
lose one's touch
lose touch
magic touch
Midas touch
multi-touch
near touch
one-touch
out of touch
pretouch
reverse Midas touch
royal touch
soft touch
therapeutic touch
toe touch
to the touch
touch assist
touch-dry
touch-first
touch football
touch footy
touch-free
touchfree
touch hole
touch home
touch-in-goal
touch judge
touch-kick
touchless
touchline
touch map
touchmark
touch move
touch-needle
touch of the tarbrush
touch of the tar brush
touch of the 'tism
touch oneself
touch pad
touch panel
touch-paper
touch pen
touchphone
touch piecebad touch
touch pool
touchproof
touchscreen
touch screen
touch tank
touch-tone
touch tour
touch-type
touch typewriting
touch typing
touch-typist
touch-up
two-hand touch
two touch
vitreous touch syndrome
Translations: