26984 words

touches

36 definitions • 64 examples
1
to put your hand or another part of your body lightly onto and off something or someone:

Examples:

That paint is wet - don't touch (it).
touch someone on something He touched the girl on the arm to get her attention.
touch something with something The boy touched the worm with (= using, in his hand) a twig.
figurative The setting sun touched the trees with red (= made them appear red for a short time).
2
(of two or more things) to be so close together that there is no space between; to be in contact:

Examples:

He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
She pushed the two bookcases together until they touched/were touching.
3
to harm someone, or use or damage something:

Examples:

Please don't touch any of my stuff while I'm away.
4
(usually used in negative sentences) to eat or drink something:

Examples:

They didn't touch any of the food we left for them.
touch a drop Honestly, I haven't touched a drop (= drunk any alcohol) all night.
5
to influence someone or something emotionally, or cause feelings of sympathy in someone:

Examples:

Tragedy touched their lives when their son was 16.
The TV report about the children's work for charity touched thousands of people's hearts.
6
(usually used in negative sentences) to have or reach the same standard (= level of quality) as someone or something:

Examples:

can't touch Her novels can't touch (= are not as good as) those of her sister.
there's no one to touch someone as something There's no one to touch him as an illustrator of children's books.
7

Examples:

a touch "Would you like milk?" "Just a touch."
touch of There was a touch of irony/humour in her voice.
8
To show that an illness is not too serious, you can say you have had a touch of it:

Examples:

I had a touch of flu/hay fever.
9
a small addition or detail that makes something better:

Examples:

The speech had several comic touches.
touch of genius Using a sailing ship as the company logo was a touch of genius (= a good/clever idea or action).
10

Examples:

The weather has turned a touch too cold for my liking.
For me, the first course was just a touch bland.
It's a touch ironic.
It seems a touch premature to start celebrating now.
The meat was a touch overcooked.
Isn't that a touch hypocritical?
She talks, perhaps a touch optimistically, about retiring by the age of 35.
11
the ability to know what something is like by feeling it with the fingers:

Examples:

the sense of touch
by touch I found the right coin in the dark by touch.
12
used after an adjective to express how something feels when you put your hand on it:

Examples:

The material was soft to the touch.
13
a quick, light movement of one thing, especially a hand, onto and off another thing:

Examples:

I felt a cold touch on my arm.
touch of At a/the touch of a button, the door opened.
14
to communicate or continue to communicate with someone by using a phone or writing to them:

Examples:

Are you still in touch with any of your old school friends?
15
to stop communicating with someone, usually because they do not live near you now:

Examples:

We lost touch over the years.
16
an ability to do things in the stated, especially positive, way:

Examples:

He has a deft touch with tricky painting jobs.
She gave the job her own special/magic/professional/personal touch.
I admire her lightness/sureness of touch as a cook.
lose your touch He used to be a good writer but I think he's losing his touch.
17
in sports such as football, a player's ability to control the ball and make it do what they want, or an occasion when a player controls the ball with their foot:

Examples:

Salah squandered the chance to score when his touch let him down in front of goal.
Hazard took several touches before crossing.
18
the area outside either of the long edges of the space on which football, rugby, and other sports are played:

Examples:

into touch Playing for safety, he kicked the ball into touch.
in touch He clearly catches the ball with both feet in touch.
19
If you are in touch/out of touch with a subject, activity, or situation, your knowledge about it is recent/not recent:

Examples:

He's not really in touch with what young people are interested in.
20
to put the fingers or hand lightly on or against something:

Examples:

[ I ] That paint is wet, so don’t touch.
21
infml If you cannot touch something, you are not allowed to have or use it:

Examples:

[ T ] She can’t touch the money from her father until she’s 21.
22
infml If you say you do not touch something, you mean that you do not drink or eat it:

Examples:

[ T ] I never touch candy.
23
to be so close together that there is no space between:

Examples:

[ T ] Don’t let the back of the chair touch the wall.
[ I ] Push the bookcases together until they touch.
24
If one thing does not touch something similar, it is not as good as the other thing:

Examples:

[ T ] Her cooking can’t touch her sister’s.
25
to cause someone to feel sympathetic or grateful:

Examples:

Your kindness has touched my family.
26

Examples:

He seems to be losing his touch at poker.
The flowers were a nice touch.
27

Examples:

There was a touch of regret in her voice.
I had a touch of flu yesterday.
28
the state of being close together or in contact with someone or something
29
the ability to know what something is like by putting your hand or fingers on it:

Examples:

[ U ] This cloth is soft to the touch.
30
A touch is an act of putting your hand or fingers briefly on something to operate it:

Examples:

[ C ] At a touch of the button, the door opened.
31
to put your fingers or hand lightly on the surface of something:

Examples:

Don't touch the machine when it's in use.
32
used to say that someone or something is the best of a particular kind:

Examples:

As a hard worker, no one can touch him.
This computer is so powerful, no other laptop can touch it.
33
to talk with someone for a short time:

Examples:

He wants to touch base on some of the significant items that we've been dealing with.
34
a small addition or detail which makes something better:

Examples:

Adding music to your presentation was a nice touch.
I am just putting the finishing touches to my monthly report.
35
communicating or continuing to communicate with someone by phone, email, etc.:

Examples:

get/keep/stay in touch (with sb) We need to get in touch with our suppliers right away.
Let's keep in touch over the next few days while the installation is in progress.
36
aware of what is happening:

Examples:

in touch with sth It's very important to stay in touch with the practices of other employers in the city.

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