TOUCH

Pronunciation (US):

• TOUCH (noun)
  The noun TOUCH has 12 senses:

1. the event of something coming in contact with the body
2. the faculty by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body (especially the hands)
3. a suggestion of some quality
4. a distinguishing style
5. the act of putting two things together with no space between them
6. a slight but appreciable addition
7. a communicative interaction
8. a slight attack of illness
9. the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan)
10. the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin
11. deftness in handling matters
12. the feel of mechanical action

  Familiarity information: TOUCH used as a noun is familiar.

• TOUCH (verb)
  The verb TOUCH has 15 senses:

1. make physical contact with, come in contact with
2. perceive via the tactile sense
3. affect emotionally
4. have to do with or be relevant to
5. be in direct physical contact with; make contact
6. have an effect upon
7. deal with; usually used with a form of negation
8. cause to be in brief contact with
9. to extend as far as
10. be equal to in quality or ability
11. tamper with
12. make a more or less disguised reference to
13. comprehend
14. consume
15. color lightly

  Familiarity information: TOUCH used as a verb is familiar.

• TOUCH (noun)

Sense 1

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The event of something coming in contact with the body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

touch; touching

Context examples:

he longed for the touch of her hand / the cooling touch of the night air

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

contact; impinging; striking (the physical coming together of two or more things)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "touch"):

brush; light touch (momentary contact)

stroke (a light touch)

Sense 2

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The faculty by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body (especially the hands)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

cutaneous senses; sense of touch; skin senses; touch modality; touch

Context example:

only sight and touch enable us to locate objects in the space around us

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

exteroception (sensitivity to stimuli originating outside of the body)

somatosense (any of the sensory systems that mediate sensations of pressure and tickle and warmth and cold and vibration and limb position and limb movement and pain)

Holonyms ("touch" is a part of...):

somaesthesia; somaesthesis; somataesthesis; somatesthesia; somatic sense; somatic sensory system; somatosensory system; somesthesia; somesthesis (the faculty of bodily perception; sensory systems associated with the body; includes skin senses and proprioception and the internal organs)

Sense 3

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A suggestion of some quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

touch; trace; ghost

Context examples:

there was a touch of sarcasm in his tone / he detected a ghost of a smile on her face

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

proffer; proposition; suggestion (a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection)

Sense 4

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A distinguishing style

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

signature; touch

Context example:

this room needs a woman's touch

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

fashion; manner; mode; style; way (how something is done or how it happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "touch"):

common touch (the property of appealing to people in general (usually by appearing to have qualities in common with them))

Sense 5

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of putting two things together with no space between them

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

touching; touch

Context example:

at his touch the room filled with lights

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

deed; effort; exploit; feat (a notable achievement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "touch"):

contact; physical contact (the act of touching physically)

grazing; shaving; skimming (the act of brushing against while passing)

lap; lick (touching with the tongue)

tag ((sports) the act of touching a player in a game (which changes their status in the game))

stroke; stroking (a light touch with the hands)

tickle; tickling; titillation (the act of tickling)

palpation; tactual exploration (a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body parts when the examiner is a health professional))

grope (the act of groping; and instance of groping)

fingering (touching something with the fingers)

handling; manipulation (the action of touching with the hands (or the skillful use of the hands) or by the use of mechanical means)

dab; pat; tap (a light touch or stroke)

hit; hitting; striking (the act of contacting one thing with another)

dig; jab (the act of touching someone suddenly with your finger or elbow)

kiss (a light glancing touch)

buss; kiss; osculation (the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof))

catch; grab; snap; snatch (the act of catching an object with the hands)

Sense 6

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A slight but appreciable addition

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

tinge; mite; soupcon; jot; speck; pinch; hint; touch

Context example:

this dish could use a touch of garlic

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "touch"):

snuff (a pinch of smokeless tobacco inhaled at a single time)

Sense 7

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A communicative interaction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

touch; contact

Context examples:

the pilot made contact with the base / he got in touch with his colleagues

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

communicating; communication (the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information)

Sense 8

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A slight attack of illness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

touch; spot

Context example:

he has a touch of rheumatism

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

attack (a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition)

Sense 9

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he watched the beggar trying to make a touch

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

solicitation (an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status)

Sense 10

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

tactile sensation; tactual sensation; touch sensation; feeling; touch

Context examples:

she likes the touch of silk on her skin / the surface had a greasy feeling

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

perception (the process of perceiving)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "touch"):

cutaneous sensation; haptic sensation; skin sensation (a sensation localized on the skin)

creepiness (an uneasy sensation as of insects creeping on your skin)

Sense 11

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Deftness in handling matters

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

he has a master's touch

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

adeptness; adroitness; deftness; facility; quickness (skillful performance or ability without difficulty)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "touch"):

capstone; copestone; finishing touch (a final touch; a crowning achievement; a culmination)

Sense 12

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The feel of mechanical action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

this piano has a wonderful touch

Hypernyms ("touch" is a kind of...):

feel; tactile property (a property perceived by touch)

• TOUCH (verb)

Sense 1

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Make physical contact with, come in contact with

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context examples:

Touch the stone for good luck / She never touched her husband

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

brush (touch lightly and briefly)

skim; skim over (move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of)

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

buss; kiss; osculate (touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.)

kiss (touch lightly or gently)

mouth (touch with the mouth)

press (exert pressure or force to or upon)

tag (touch a player while he is holding the ball)

collide with; hit; impinge on; run into; strike (hit against; come into sudden contact with)

caress (touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner)

engage (get caught)

touch (cause to be in brief contact with)

toe (touch with the toe)

pick up (take up by hand)

hit; strike (produce by manipulating keys or strings of musical instruments, also metaphorically)

finger; thumb (feel or handle with the fingers)

feel (pass one's hands over the sexual organs of)

feel; palpate (examine (a body part) by palpation)

handle; palm (touch, lift, or hold with the hands)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Also:

touch down (come or bring (a plane) to a landing)

Sense 2

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Perceive via the tactile sense

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Affect emotionally

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

touch; stir

Context examples:

A stirring movie / I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

get (evoke an emotional response)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

The bad news will touch him
The performance is likely to touch Sue

Sense 4

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Have to do with or be relevant to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

pertain; concern; bear on; come to; refer; relate; touch on; touch

Context examples:

There were lots of questions referring to her talk / My remark pertained to your earlier comments

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

center; center on; concentrate on; focus on; revolve about; revolve around (center upon)

apply; go for; hold (be pertinent or relevant or applicable)

affect; involve; regard (connect closely and often incriminatingly)

interest; matter to (be of importance or consequence)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 5

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Be in direct physical contact with; make contact

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

adjoin; contact; touch; meet

Context examples:

The two buildings touch / Their hands touched / The wire must not contact the metal cover / The surfaces contact at this point

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

lean against; lean on; rest on (rest on for support)

border; skirt; surround (extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle)

abut; adjoin; border; butt; butt against; butt on; edge; march (lie adjacent to another or share a boundary)

hug (fit closely or tightly)

attach (be attached; be in contact with)

chafe; fray; fret; rub; scratch (cause friction)

adhere; cleave; cling; cohere; stick (come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation)

cover; spread over (form a cover over)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sentence examples:

Our properties touch at this point
His fields touch mine at this point

Sense 6

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Have an effect upon

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

bear upon; affect; bear on; impact; touch on; touch

Context example:

Will the new rules affect me?

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

endanger; expose; peril; queer; scupper (put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position)

hit; strike (affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely)

subject (cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to)

bother; discommode; disoblige; incommode; inconvenience; put out; trouble (to cause inconvenience or discomfort to)

act upon; influence; work (have and exert influence or effect)

slam-dunk (make a forceful move against)

color; colour; distort; tinge (affect as in thought or feeling)

hydrolise; hydrolize (make a compound react with water and undergo hydrolysis)

process; treat (subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition)

excite; stimulate (act as a stimulant)

redound (have an effect for good or ill)

tell on (produce an affect or strain on somebody)

repercuss (cause repercussions; have an unwanted effect)

strike a blow (affect adversely)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 7

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Deal with; usually used with a form of negation

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context examples:

I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole / The local Mafia won't touch gambling

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

care; deal; handle; manage (be in charge of, act on, or dispose of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 8

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause to be in brief contact with

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

He touched his toes to the horse's flanks

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

touch (make physical contact with, come in contact with)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 9

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

To extend as far as

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

extend to; reach; touch

Context examples:

The sunlight reached the wall / Can he reach? / The chair must not touch the wall

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

be (occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

reach into (run into or up to)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s something

Sense 10

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Be equal to in quality or ability

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

rival; equal; match; touch

Context examples:

Nothing can rival cotton for durability / Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues / Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 11

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Tamper with

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

disturb; touch

Context example:

Don't touch my CDs!

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

upset (disturb the balance or stability of)

violate (destroy)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Make a more or less disguised reference to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

allude; advert; touch

Context example:

He alluded to the problem but did not mention it

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

hint; suggest (drop a hint; intimate by a hint)

"Touch" entails doing...:

denote; refer (have as a meaning)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 13

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Comprehend

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

He could not touch the meaning of the poem

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 14

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Consume

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

partake; touch

Context example:

She didn't touch her food all night

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

consume; have; ingest; take; take in (serve oneself to, or consume regularly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

receive (partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They touch more bread

Sense 15

touch [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Color lightly

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

tinct; tint; tinge; touch

Context examples:

her greying hair was tinged blond / the leaves were tinged red in November

Hypernyms (to "touch" is one way to...):

color; color in; colorise; colorize; colour; colour in; colourise; colourize (add color to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "touch"):

complexion (give a certain color to)

tincture (stain or tint with a color)

henna (apply henna to one's hair)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something