touch

Universal Words verb, noun verb with hands / fingers 1 [VN] to put your hands or fingers onto sb/sth: Don't touch that plate-it's hot! * Can you touch your toes (= bend and reach them with your hands)? * I touched him lightly on the arm. * (figurative) I must do some more work on that article-I haven't touched it all week. no space between 2 (of two or more things, surfaces, etc.) to be or come so close together that there is no space between: [V] Make sure the wires don't touch. * [VN] Don't let your coat touch the wet paint. * His coat was so long it was almost touching the floor. * The dancer's feet hardly seemed to touch the ground. move sth / hit sb 3 [VN] (often in negative sentences) to move sth, especially in such a way that you damage it; to hit or harm sb: I told you not to touch my things. * He said I kicked him, but I never touched him! eat / drink / use 4 [VN] (usually in negative sentences) to eat, drink or use sth: You've hardly touched your food. * He hasn't touched the money his aunt left him. affect sb / sth 5 to make sb feel upset or sympathetic: [VN] Her story touched us all deeply. * What he said really touched my heart. [also VNtoinf] 6 [VN] (old-fashioned or formal) to affect or concern sb/sth: These are issues that touch us all. equal sb 7 [VN] (usually in negative sentences) to be as good as sb in skill, quality, etc: No one can touch him when it comes to interior design. reach level 8 [VN] to reach a particular level, etc: The speedometer was touching 90. be involved with 9 [VN] to become connected with or work with a situation or person: Everything she touches turns to disaster. * His last two movies have been complete flops and now no studio will touch him. of smile 10 [VN] to be seen on sb's face for a short time: A smile touched the corners of his mouth. IDIOMS be touched with sth to have a small amount of a particular quality: His hair was touched with grey. * Some of her poems are touched with real genius. not touch sb/sth with a bargepole (BrE) (AmE not touch sb/sth with a ten-foot pole) (informal) to refuse to get involved with sb/sth or in a particular situation: Personally, I wouldn't touch him or his business with a bargepole. touch base (with sb) (informal) to make contact with sb again touch bottom 1 to reach the ground at the bottom of an area of water: I put my feet down and touched bottom. 2 (BrE) to reach the worst possible state or condition: Her career really touched bottom with that movie. touch wood (BrE) (AmE knock on wood) (saying) used when you have just mentioned some way in which you have been lucky in the past, to avoid bringing bad luck: I've been driving for over 20 years and never had an accident-touch wood! moreatCHORD, FORELOCK, HAIR, NERVEn., RAWn. PHRASALVERBS touch down 1 (of a plane, spacecraft, etc.) to land relatednounTOUCHDOWN 2 (in rugby) to score a TRY by putting the ball on the ground behind the other team's goal line relatednounTOUCHDOWN touch sb for sth (informal) to persuade sb to give or lend you sth, especially money: He tried to touch me for 50 bucks. touch sth<->off to make sth begin, especially a difficult or violent situation: The blaze was touched off by lightning. * Her comments touched off a wave of protests. touch on / upon sth to mention or deal with a subject in only a few words, without going into detail: In his speech he was only able to touch on a few aspects of the problem. * The central issue of the debate was hardly touched on in his speech. touch sb<->up (BrE, informal) to touch sb sexually, usually in a way that is not expected or welcome touch sth<->up to improve sth by changing or adding to it slightly: She was busy touching up her make-up in the mirror. noun sense 1 [U] the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them: the sense of touch * to read Braille by touch with hands / fingers 2 [C,usually sing.] an act of putting your hands and fingers onto sb/sth: The gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder made her jump. * All this information is readily available at the touch of a button (= by simply pressing a button). * This type of engraving requires a delicate touch. * She played the piano with a light touch. way sth feels 3 [sing.] the way that sth feels when you put your hand or fingers on it or when it comes into contact with your body: The body was cold to the touch. * material with a smooth silky touch * He could not bear the touch of clothing on his sunburnt skin. small detail 4 [C] a small detail that is added to sth in order to improve it or make it complete: I spent the morning putting the finishing touches to the report. * Meeting them at the airport was a nice touch. * Bright cushions add a decorative touch to a room. way of doing sth 5 [sing.] a way or style of doing sth: She prefers to answer any fan mail herself for a more personal touch. * Computer graphics will give your presentation the professional touch. * He couldn't find his magic touch with the ball today (= he didn't play well). * This meal is awful. I think I'm losing my touch (= my ability to do sth). small amount 6 [C,often sing.] ~ of sth a very small amount SYNTRACE: There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice. * There could be a touch of frost tonight. slightly 7 (a touch) [sing.] slightly; a little: The music was a touch too loud for my liking. in football / rugby 8 [U] the area outside the lines that mark the sides of the playing field: He kicked the ball into touch. IDIOMS be, get, keep, etc. in touch (with sb) to communicate with sb, especially by writing to them or telephoning them: Are you still in touch with your friends from college? * Thanks for showing us your products-we'll be in touch. * I'm trying to get in touch with Jane. Do you have her number? * Let's keep in touch. * I'll put you in touch with someone in your area. be, keep, etc. in touch (with sth) to know what is happening in a particular subject or area: It is important to keep in touch with the latest research. be out of touch (with sb) to no longer communicate with sb, so that you no longer know what is happening to them: We've been out of touch for a couple of years. be, become, etc. out of touch (with sth) to not know or understand what is happening in a particular subject or area: Unfortunately, the people making the decisions are out of touch with the real world. an easy / a soft touch (informal) a person that you can easily persuade to do sth, especially to give you money: Unfortunately, my father is no soft touch. lose touch (with sb/sth) 1 to no longer have any contact with sb/sth: I've lost touch with all my old friends. 2 to no longer understand sth, especially how ordinary people feel moreatCOMMONadj., LIGHTadj.