verb
touches; touched; touching
to put your hand, fingers, etc., on someone or something [+ obj]
usually used in negative statements
to be in contact with (something) - used to say that one thing is directly against another thing with no space between; [+ obj]
[+ obj] to change or move (something) - usually used in negative statements
to harm (someone or something)
[+ obj] to deal with or work on (something)
to become involved with (someone or something)
[+ obj] :to use (something) - usually used in negative statements
[+ obj] to affect or involve (someone)
to affect the feelings of (someone) :to cause (someone) to feel an emotion (such as sympathy or gratitude)
[+ obj] :to influence (something)
[+ obj] :to be as good as (someone or something) - usually used in negative statements
[+ obj] chiefly Brit :to reach (a particular level or amount)
[+ obj] baseball :to get a hit off or score a run against (a pitcher) - usually + for
[+ obj] literary :to appear on (something)
not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole
US or Brit not touch (someone or something) with a bargepole
informal :to refuse to go near or become involved with (someone or something)
touch a chord
touch all the bases
or touch every base
touch a nerve
touch base
touch down
[phrasal verb]
to return to the ground or another surface after a flight :land
touch (the ball) down or touch down (the ball) rugby :to score by putting (the ball) on the ground behind an opponent's goal line
touch for
[phrasal verb]
touch (someone) for (something) informal Brit :to persuade (someone) to give or lend you (an amount of money)
touch off
[phrasal verb]
touch off (something) or touch (something) off :to cause (something) to start suddenly
touch on/upon
[phrasal verb]
touch on/upon (something)
to briefly talk or write about (something) :to mention (something) briefly
to come close to (something) :to almost be (something)
touch up
[phrasal verb]
touch up (something) or touch (something) up :to improve (something) by making small changes or additions
touch (someone) up or touch up (someone) Brit informal :to touch (someone) in a sexual way
touch wood
touch your forelock
noun
plural touches
[count] :the act of touching someone or something - usually singular
[noncount] :the ability to be aware of something physical by touching it :the sense that allows you to feel physical things
[singular] :the quality of a thing that is experienced by feeling or touching it
[count] :a small detail that is added to improve or complete something - usually + to
[singular] :a quality that can be seen in the way something is done
[count] :an act of handling or controlling the ball in a sport (such as basketball, soccer, or American football)
[noncount] :the area outside of the lines that mark the long edges of the playing area in soccer or rugby
a touch
to a small extent :slightly
a touch of
a small amount of (something) :a hint or trace of (something)
finishing touch
in touch
in a state in which people communicate with each other especially by calling or writing to each other
the state of being aware of what is happening, how a particular group of people feels, etc. - usually + with
the state of being aware of a particular part of your character that is not easily noticed - usually + with
lose touch
to stop communicating with each other :to no longer know what is happening in each other's lives
to stop knowing what is happening, how a particular group of people feels, etc. - usually + with
lose your touch
to no longer have the ability to do things that you were able to do successfully in the past
out of touch
not communicating with each other
in a state of not knowing what is happening, how a particular group of people feels, etc.
usually + with