touch
touch
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "touch" is /tʌtʃ/.
/tʌtʃ/
Word Form Variations
Noun: touch (singular), touches (plural)
Verb: touch (base form), touches (third person singular present), touching (present participle), touched (past simple, past participle)
Adjective: touching (present participle used adjectivally), touched (past participle used adjectivally)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: An act of touching; the faculty of perception through physical contact, especially with the fingers.
Synonyms: feel, contact, sense of touch, manipulation
Antonyms: sight, hearing, smell, taste (as other senses); non-contact
Definition 2: A light physical contact, especially one used for communication or effect.
Synonyms: tap, pat, brush, caress, stroke, nudge
Antonyms: shove, push, hit, punch, blow
Definition 3: A small amount or detail; a distinguishing quality or characteristic.
Synonyms: trace, hint, suggestion, dash, bit, nuance, flair, characteristic
Antonyms: large amount, bulk, absence, generality, lack
Definition 4: Communication or contact with someone.
Synonyms: contact, communication, connection, correspondence, rapport
Antonyms: loss of contact, estrangement, isolation, separation
Definition 5: (Sports, e.g., rugby, soccer) The area outside the playing field.
Synonyms: sideline, out of bounds, boundary
Antonyms: in-play, field, pitch, court
Definition 6: (Figurative) A particular quality or style conveyed by an artist or creator; a distinctive mark.
Synonyms: flair, knack, skill, mastery, finesse, artistry
Antonyms: clumsiness, amateurishness, lack of skill
Verb
Definition 1: To make physical contact with (something or someone).
Synonyms: feel, make contact with, pat, tap, brush, stroke, handle
Antonyms: release, let go, avoid, miss, detach
Definition 2: To be in contact with or adjacent to.
Synonyms: meet, adjoin, abut, border, connect
Antonyms: separate, diverge, be distant from, be apart from
Definition 3: To reach or attain; to come up to (a certain level or condition).
Synonyms: reach, attain, achieve, equal, match, approach
Antonyms: fall short of, fail to reach, miss, underperform
Definition 4: To affect or move emotionally.
Synonyms: move, stir, affect, impress, soften, upset, inspire
Antonyms: leave unmoved, bore, disinterest, alienate
Definition 5: To relate to; to concern.
Synonyms: concern, pertain to, relate to, bear on, involve
Antonyms: be irrelevant to, be unrelated to, disregard
Definition 6: To eat, drink, or use (usually in negative contexts).
Example usage: "She refused to touch the food."
Synonyms: eat, drink, consume, use, handle
Antonyms: avoid, abstain from, leave alone
Adjective (Present Participle 'touching' and Past Participle 'touched' used adjectivally)
Touching (Adjective): Arousing tender or sympathetic emotion; moving.
Synonyms: moving, poignant, affecting, heartwarming, emotional, tender
Antonyms: unmoving, cold, impersonal, indifferent, unaffecting
Touched (Adjective): Affected emotionally; (informal) slightly mad or eccentric.
Synonyms: affected, moved, impressed; eccentric, crazy, mad (informal)
Antonyms: unaffected, unmoved; sane, rational, normal
Examples of Use
Books:
"He reached out, his fingers lightly brushing her arm, a fleeting touch that sent shivers down her spine." (Fictional example from a romance novel)
"The book emphasized the importance of human touch in early childhood development and bonding." (From a non-fiction book on psychology or child development)
"The painting had a unique, almost ethereal touch, setting it apart from contemporary works." (From an art criticism book)
Newspapers:
"The President's speech included a surprising touch of humor, lightening the serious tone." ("Daily Nation,")
"Police advised the public not to touch any suspicious packages found in public places." ("The Standard,")
"The new economic policies are designed to touch on the core issues affecting low-income households." ("Business Daily Africa,")
Online Publications:
"Learn how to add a personal touch to your home decor with DIY projects." (An article on a home improvement blog, e.g., Apartment Therapy)
"Our new smart devices feature touch-sensitive controls for effortless interaction." (A product review on a tech website, e.g., CNET)
"How to get back in touch with old friends: Tips for rekindling lost connections." (An article on a social networking or self-help site, e.g., Psychology Today Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I could have danced all night, and still have begged for more. I could have spread my wings and done a million things I've never done before." (Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, 1964) - This conveys an exhilarating feeling, perhaps a magical "touch" from the night.
Television Series: "For your next challenge, you must create a dish that has a subtle touch of spice, but not overwhelming." (Instructions on a cooking competition show, e.g., MasterChef)
Song Lyrics: "Touch me, it's so easy to leave me, all alone with the memory of my days in the sun." (The Doors, "Touch Me," 1969)
Video Games: "Do not touch the red lasers, or your character will be instantly eliminated!" (In-game instruction or warning, e.g., Tomb Raider)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we explore the human touch in customer service and why it still matters in an automated world." (A podcast on business or customer experience, e.g., The Customer Service Show)
General Public Discourse:
"Don't touch that, it's hot!" (A common warning to children)
"Can you keep in touch while you're away?" (A request to maintain contact)
"She added a personal touch to the gift by wrapping it herself." (Describing an act of personalization)
"I lost my sense of touch in my fingers after the accident." (A statement about a medical condition)
"The football went out of touch before he could kick it." (A comment during a sports game)
"That story was very touching; it made me cry." (Describing an emotional impact)
"He's a bit touched in the head, if you ask me." (Informal, meaning slightly eccentric or mad)
"I wouldn't touch that offer with a ten-foot pole." (Strongly refusing or rejecting something)
10 Quotes Using Touch
"Touch me, it's so easy to leave me." (The Doors, "Touch Me," 1969)
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." (Helen Keller)
"He will not touch that offer with a ten-foot pole." (Common idiom, meaning strong refusal)
"Every man dies. Not every man really lives." (William Wallace in Braveheart, 1995) - This implicitly refers to living a life that truly "touches" others.
"Love is a verb. Love is the feeling of love. Love is the action of love." (Lesser-known, but often found in discussions about active love) - This is synonymous with the act of showing affection or "touch."
"Keep in touch." (Common closing phrase in communication)
"A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space." (Albert Einstein) - Implies the interconnectedness where one "touches" the whole.
"Just a touch of grey." (Grateful Dead, song title, 1987)
"Touch down!" (Common American football term for scoring)
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton, 1675) - Metaphorically, being "touched" by the knowledge of predecessors.
Etymology
The word "touch" has a clear origin from Old French, eventually tracing back to a Germanic root.
It comes from the Old French word touchier (or tochier).
This Old French word meant "to hit," "to strike," or "to come into contact with."
It's believed to have come from a Proto-Germanic root (tukkōną), which meant something like "to tap" or "to strike gently."
So, when "touch" first entered the English language, in the late 13th century (Middle English period), its initial meaning was "to come into contact with" or "to make physical contact with."
From this core physical meaning, it quickly expanded to include:
The "sense of touch" (by the 14th century).
Figurative senses like "to affect emotionally" (e.g., "a touching story") by the 16th century.
The idea of a "small amount" or "trace" (e.g., "a touch of salt") by the 17th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Touch
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "touch":
Touch and go: A very uncertain or risky situation.
Touch base: To make brief contact with someone.
Touch down: To land (of an aircraft); (American football) to score a touchdown.
Touch up: To improve something with small additions or alterations.
Out of touch: Not informed or in communication; not up-to-date.
In touch: Informed or in communication; up-to-date.
To lose one's touch: To lose a skill or ability that one once had.
To get in touch with: To make contact or communicate with someone.
To put the finishing touches on (something): To complete the final details or improvements.
A light touch: A delicate or gentle approach; finesse.
To touch a nerve: To cause someone to feel upset or angry because of a sensitive subject.
To touch a chord: To evoke a sympathetic or emotional response.
By touch: Through the sense of physical contact, rather than sight.
A mere brush of contact: A very brief and superficial interaction. (Synonym for a "light touch")
To make an impression: To have a significant effect on someone. (Synonymous with "to touch someone's heart")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of touch from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
