Dictionary entry details
• TOUCH (noun)
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)
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)
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)
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))
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
