TOUCH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does touch mean? 

• 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 amount

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. 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.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOUCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The event of something coming in contact with the body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

touch; touching

Context example:

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)

Derivation:

touch (be in direct physical contact with; make contact)

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

touch (cause to be in brief contact with)

touch (perceive via the tactile sense)

touch (to extend as far as)

Sense 2

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; touch modality

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)

Derivation:

touch (perceive via the tactile sense)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A suggestion of some quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

ghost; touch; trace

Context example:

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

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

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

touch; touching

Context example:

at his touch the room filled with lights

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

act; deed; human action; human activity (something that people do or cause to happen)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

kiss (a light glancing touch)

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

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

fingering (touching something with the fingers)

Derivation:

touch (cause to be in brief contact with)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A slight but appreciable amount

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

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

Meaning:

A communicative interaction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

contact; touch

Context example:

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

Meaning:

A slight attack of illness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

spot; touch

Context example:

he has a touch of rheumatism

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

attack (a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition)

Sense 9

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

Meaning:

The sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

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)

Derivation:

touch (perceive via the tactile sense)

Sense 11

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

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)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make physical contact with, come in contact with

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

She never touched her husband

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

stroke (touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions)

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; snog (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)

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

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)

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)

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

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)

Derivation:

touch (the event of something coming in contact with the body)

toucher (a person who causes or allows a part of the body to come in contact with someone or something)

touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

Sense 2

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

Derivation:

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

touch (the sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin)

touch; touching (the event of something coming in contact with the body)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Affect emotionally

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

stir; touch

Context example:

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

Meaning:

Be relevant to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

bear on; come to; concern; have to do with; pertain; refer; relate; touch; touch on

Context example:

My remark pertained to your earlier comments

Verb group:

advert; allude; touch (make a more or less disguised reference to)

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

Meaning:

Be in direct physical contact with; make contact

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

adjoin; contact; meet; touch

Context example:

The surfaces contact at this point

Verb group:

converge; meet (be adjacent or come together)

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

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

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

attach (be attached; be in contact with)

hug (fit closely or tightly)

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

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

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

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

Derivation:

touch (the event of something coming in contact with the body)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Have an effect upon

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

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

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"):

strike a blow (affect adversely)

slam-dunk (make a forceful move against)

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

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

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

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

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

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 effect or strain on somebody)

repercuss (cause repercussions; have an unwanted effect)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 7

Meaning:

Deal with; usually used with a form of negation

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

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

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

Derivation:

touch (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

touch (the event of something coming in contact with the body)

toucher (a person who causes or allows a part of the body to come in contact with someone or something)

Sense 9

Meaning:

To extend as far as

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

extend to; reach; touch

Context example:

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

Derivation:

touch (the event of something coming in contact with the body)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Be equal to in quality or ability

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

equal; match; rival; touch

Context example:

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)

Verb group:

equal; equalise; equalize; equate; match (make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 11

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

Meaning:

Make a more or less disguised reference to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

advert; allude; 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)

Verb group:

bear on; come to; concern; have to do with; pertain; refer; relate; touch; touch on (be relevant to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 13

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

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

Meaning:

Color lightly

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

tinct; tinge; tint; touch

Context example:

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 tinge with a slight amount of a color)

henna (apply henna to one's hair)

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

Since its discovery in mice, scientists have proposed that PIEZO2 plays an important role in touch and pain in humans.

(Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury, National Institutes of Health)

What’s remarkable about these patients is how much their nervous systems compensate for their lack of touch and body awareness.

(“Sixth sense” may be more than just a feeling, NIH)

I don't think they would touch Challenger, but I wouldn't answer for Summerlee.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You can get a cold by touching your eyes or nose after you touch surfaces with cold germs on them.

(Common Cold, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

"Oh, Mother, if I'm ever half as good as you, I shall be satisfied," cried Jo, much touched.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The man assured her again that he would on no account touch a thing to eat or drink.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

He yielded till the hand almost touched him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

They found that those with deficiencies in pathways that sense touch, light, taste, and oxygen could still detect magnetic fields.

(Magnetic Field Sensor Unearthed in Worms, NIH)

Teach children that they shouldn't touch guns and that if they see a gun, to leave it alone and tell an adult.

(Gun Safety, NIH)

I approached my cheek to her lips: she would not touch it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)