touch

noun

UK /tʌtʃ/

Word Forms

singular	touch
plural	touches

1
countable usually singularthe action of putting your hand or part of your body on someone or something
The touch of his hand sent a thrill through her body.
She felt the touch of his lips on her back.
Synonyms and related words
Instances of touching, holding and physical contact
touch
contact
hold
2
singular a very small amount of a substance
‘Do you want milk in your coffee?’ ‘Just a touch, please.’
touch of:
Add a touch of vinegar.
Synonyms and related words
Small amounts or pieces of something
bit
piece
fragment
1. 2a
  
  a touch
  slightly
  The curtains are a touch on the long side.
  Things will be a touch easier next month.
  Synonyms and related words
  Slightly, to some degree and not completely
  slightly
  fairly
  partly
3
uncountable the sense that tells you what something feels like, through your skin or when you put your fingers on it
Children’s imaginations can be stimulated through sight, touch, and smell.
Synonyms and related words
Feeling and the sense of touch
feeling
sensation
tactile
4
countable a small feature that improves something
The flowers in the room were a nice touch.
Lace added a decorative touch to the tablecloth.
Synonyms and related words
Improvement and improvements
improvement
gain
quantum leap
5
singular a particular quality that someone can add to a situation
personal/feminine/human/professional touch:
The hotel provides good service and the personal touch.
magic touch (=a special and successful quality):
Jane Pickard is the businesswoman with a magic touch.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
6
singular your ability to do something well
Charlotte has really developed a touch for Mexican cooking.
Synonyms and related words
Skill, talent and ability
experience
ability
skill
7
countable the action of hitting or kicking a ball
Cusack promptly scored with his first touch.
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball

phrases

find your touch

finishing/final touch

in touch (with someone)

in touch (with something)

lose your touch

out of touch

a soft/an easy touch

a touch of something

to the touch

touch

noun

US /tʌtʃ/

Word Forms

singular	touch
plural	touches

1
countable usually singularthe action of putting your hand or part of your body on someone or something
The touch of his hand sent a thrill through her body.
She felt the touch of his lips on her back.
Synonyms and related words
Instances of touching, holding and physical contact
touch
contact
hold
2
singular a very small amount of a substance
“Do you want milk in your coffee?” “Just a touch, please.”
touch of:
Add a touch of vinegar.
Synonyms and related words
Small amounts or pieces of something
bit
piece
fragment
1. 2a
  
  a touch
  slightly
  The curtains are a touch on the long side.
  Things will be a touch easier next month.
  Synonyms and related words
  Slightly, to some degree and not completely
  slightly
  fairly
  partly
3
uncountable the sense that tells you what something feels like, through your skin or when you put your fingers on it
Children’s imaginations can be stimulated through sight, touch, and smell.
Synonyms and related words
Feeling and the sense of touch
feeling
sensation
tactile
4
countable a small feature that improves something
The flowers in the room were a nice touch.
Lace added a decorative touch to the tablecloth.
Synonyms and related words
Improvement and improvements
improvement
a change for the better/worse
development
5
singular a particular quality that someone can add to a situation
personal/feminine/human/professional touch:
The hotel provides good service and the personal touch.
magic touch (=a special and successful quality):
Jane Pickard is the businesswoman with a magic touch.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
6
singular your ability to do something well
Charlotte has really developed a touch for Mexican cooking.
Synonyms and related words
Skill, talent and ability
skill
talent
ability
7
countable the action of hitting or kicking a ball
Levens gained five yards on his first touch of the ball.
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball

phrases

finishing/final touch

in touch (with someone)

in touch (with something)

out of touch

a soft/an easy touch

a touch of something

to the touch

touch

verb

UK /tʌtʃ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	touch
he/she/it	touches
present participle	touching
past tense	touched
past participle	touched

1
transitive to put your hand or part of your body on someone or something
Beth reached out and touched his cheek.
He was careful not to touch the blood.
touch something to something (=move something so that it touches something else):
‘Be quiet!’ she said, touching her finger to her lips.
He touched the napkin briefly to his chin.
Synonyms and related words
To touch, or to pick up someone or something
touch
pick up
handle
1. 1a
  to press something in a light way with your finger or foot to make something work
  Kate touched a button and the machine whirred into action.
  Synonyms and related words
  To touch, or to pick up someone or something
  touch
  pick up
  handle
2. 1b
  to put your hand on someone’s body in a sexual way
  It was the first time he had touched her.
  Synonyms and related words
  Kissing and touching in a sexual way
  a good/terrible etc kisser
  bill and coo
  canoodle
2
intransitive/transitive if two things touch, or if something touches something else, there is no space between them
The chair was so high that his feet couldn’t touch the ground.
They stood next to each other, barely touching.
Synonyms and related words
To be near to or connected to something
join
touch
overlap
3
transitive to affect your emotions, especially so that you feel sad or sympathetic
His comments really touched me.
He was touched by their suffering and offered to help.
touch someone’s heart:
The plight of the orphans has touched the hearts of thousands of people.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel a particular emotion or strong emotions
affect
provoke
inspire
1. 3a
  to feel grateful because someone has been very kind to you
  I was really touched by the flowers he sent.
  Eric was touched by her concern.
  Synonyms and related words
  Grateful and gratitude
  grateful
  gratitude
  thankful
4
transitive to change or influence someone or something in a positive way
She touched many people’s lives through her charity work.
Synonyms and related words
To change something
change
make into
convert
1. 4a
  always in negativesto change something in a way that is noticeable
  The old farmhouse has hardly been touched by modern trends.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change something
  change
  make into
  convert
2. 4b
  if an expression, especially a smile, touches your lips or eyes, you have it for a short time
  A trace of a smile touched her lips.
  Synonyms and related words
  To show, or to be expressed in the face or eyes
  clear
  crease
  creep
5
transitive always in negativesto eat or drink a particular thing
She was so upset that she had barely touched her food.
I never touch meat or dairy products.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to eat
eat
swallow
have
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to drink
drink
swallow
have
6
transitive usually in negativesto use something
Don’t touch anything of mine while I’m away.
I haven’t touched any of the money she left me.
Synonyms and related words
To use something, or to be used
go towards
bring in
fall back on
7
transitive always in negativesto work on something
I haven’t touched the garden for weeks.
Synonyms and related words
To work, and to work in a particular way
work
serve
collaborate
8
transitive to deal with a particular subject, situation etc
I wouldn’t touch such a difficult piece of work.
Synonyms and related words
To mention something, or to be mentioned
mention
refer to
invoke
1. 8a
  to deal with or accept someone
  Most employers won’t touch you if you’ve got a criminal record.
  Synonyms and related words
  To do business and relating to doing business
  account
  after hours
  asset
9
transitive to reach a particular amount or level
Police recorded him driving at speeds touching 120 miles per hour.
Synonyms and related words
To reach a particular amount, point, or state
reach
come
come to
10
transitive to hit or kick a ball in a game
He hardly touched the ball during the game.
Synonyms and related words
To kick or hit a ball in a game or sport
strike at
kick
play
11
transitive always in negativesto be as good as someone or something else
He is a great sportsman, but he can’t touch his brother.
Synonyms and related words
To be similar to, or the same as, something or someone
match
correspond
amount to

phrases

be touched by something

touch a nerve

touch wood

phrasal verbs

touch down

touch for

touch off

touch on

touch up

touch upon

touch

verb

US /tʌtʃ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	touch
he/she/it	touches
present participle	touching
past tense	touched
past participle	touched

1
transitive to put your hand or part of your body on someone or something
Beth reached out and touched his cheek.
He was careful not to touch the blood.
touch something to something (=move something so that it touches something else):
“Be quiet!” she said, touching her finger to her lips.
He touched the napkin briefly to his chin.
Synonyms and related words
To touch, or to pick up someone or something
touch
pick up
handle
1. 1a
  to press something in a light way with your finger or foot to make something work
  Kate touched a button and the machine whirred into action.
  Synonyms and related words
  To touch, or to pick up someone or something
  touch
  pick up
  handle
2. 1b
  to put your hand on someone’s body in a sexual way
  It was the first time he had touched her.
  Synonyms and related words
  Kissing and touching in a sexual way
  a good/terrible, etc. kisser
  bill and coo
  canoodle
2
intransitive/transitive if two things touch, or if something touches something else, there is no space between them
The chair was so high that his feet couldn’t touch the ground.
They stood next to each other, barely touching.
Synonyms and related words
To be near to or connected to something
join
touch
overlap
3
transitive to affect your emotions, especially so that you feel sad or sympathetic
His comments really touched me.
He was touched by their suffering and offered to help.
touch someone’s heart:
The plight of the orphans has touched the hearts of thousands of people.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel a particular emotion or strong emotions
affect
provoke
inspire
1. 3a
  to feel grateful because someone has been very kind to you
  I was really touched by the flowers he sent.
  Eric was touched by her concern.
  Synonyms and related words
  Grateful and gratitude
  grateful
  gratitude
  thankful
4
transitive to change or influence someone or something in a positive way
She touched many people’s lives through her charity work.
Synonyms and related words
To change something
change
transform
make into
1. 4a
  always in negativesto change something in a way that is noticeable
  The old farmhouse has hardly been touched by modern trends.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change something
  change
  transform
  make into
2. 4b
  if an expression, especially a smile, touches your lips or eyes, you have it for a short time
  A trace of a smile touched her lips.
  Synonyms and related words
  To show, or to be expressed in the face or eyes
  clear
  crease
  creep
5
transitive always in negativesto eat or drink a particular thing
She was so upset that she had barely touched her food.
I never touch alcohol.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to eat
eat
swallow
have
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to drink
drink
swallow
have
6
transitive usually in negativesto use something
Don’t touch anything of mine while I’m away.
I haven’t touched any of the money she left me.
Synonyms and related words
To use something, or to be used
repurpose
use
bring in
7
transitive always in negativesto work on something
I haven’t touched the garden for weeks.
Synonyms and related words
To work, and to work in a particular way
work
serve
collaborate
8
transitive to deal with a particular subject, situation, etc.
I wouldn’t touch such a difficult piece of work.
Synonyms and related words
To mention something, or to be mentioned
mention
refer to
invoke
1. 8a
  to deal with or accept someone
  Most employers won’t touch you if you have a criminal record.
  Synonyms and related words
  To do business and relating to doing business
  account
  after hours
  asset
9
transitive to reach a particular amount or level
The police recorded him driving at speeds touching 120 miles per hour.
Synonyms and related words
To reach a particular amount, point, or state
reach
come
come to
10
transitive to hit or kick a ball in a game
He hardly touched the ball during the game.
Synonyms and related words
To kick or hit a ball in a game or sport
strike at
kick
play
11
transitive always in negativesto be as good as someone or something else
He is a good golfer, but he can’t touch his brother.
Synonyms and related words
To be similar to, or the same as, something or someone
match
correspond
amount to

phrases

be touched by something

touch a nerve

touch wood

phrasal verbs

touch down

touch for

touch off

touch on

touch up

touch upon

touch ​‌‌‌

a touch

touch ​‌‌‌

a touch

touch ​‌‌‌

touch ​‌‌‌

touch

touch

touch

touch