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to touch

to touch

36 4.8
To reach and make physical contact with something
  • verb
  • /tʌtʃ/
translation icon : afectar
  • I've ruined everything I've touched in this family.
  • touch on issues
  • touch every aspect

They don't really touch DARPA, They certainly don't touch NSF, they don't touch NIH.

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Examples

  • And I think everything you touch turns to gold.

  • You want to reach out and touch pure evil.

  • I've been meaning to touch base with you.

  • You can look into that world, but you don't have to touch it.

    Academic text (2009)
  • We touch down in Tokyo at 0600.

  • Nothing can touch us.

  • I don't think anyone can touch his talent when it comes to playing the piano.

  • The athlete trained hard but still couldn't touch his previous record.

  • Before we finalize the deal, I wanted to touch base with you about the terms.

Synonyms

to reach
vsto touch
1.0

Stretch out to touch or get something that is far

goes as far as a limit or boundary rather than only contact
to match
vsto touch
841 1.0

To be the same color or style as something else

also means going as far or becoming involved, not only similarity
to equal
vsto touch
245 1.0

To make something the same in value or amount as another

is broader here, allowing matching or reaching rather than strict sameness
to extend to
vsto touch
58 3.4

Reach up to a certain point or limit

covers going to a limit but also includes matching and involvement
to rival
vsto touch
34 3.4

To compete with someone or be as good as them

means matching in quality without the competition element
to touch on
vsto touch
3 4.0

To affect something or someone, often slightly

is stronger, implying full involvement, matching, or reaching a limit

Antonyms

1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

16 3.9

To take something off from what it is connected to

Idioms

92 4.9

Not aware of recent events or people's feelings

66 2.3

A small amount of something added to improve or change it

46 3.0

A small extra detail that makes something look or feel better

No longer have the skill you once had to do something well

to touch a nerve
  • Informal
7 7.7

Make someone feel upset or defensive by mentioning a sensitive subject

3 9.3

To tell viewers or listeners to keep watching and not change the channel during a break in the show

To become less good at something you used to do well

Make someone feel strong emotion or sympathy

Midas touch
  • Informal
3 8.1

A special ability to make money or do well in many things

to touch a chord
  • Informal
2 5.8

To make a person feel a strong emotion

1 6.1

A natural ability to do something well

1 9.1

Tell someone not to change the radio or television channel before a show returns

Refuse to be involved with people or things that seem dangerous and dishonest

A rude slang way to say someone shows small signs of autism and may offend people

8.3

You say it to try to stop bad luck after saying something good

Ask an important person for help or a blessing

Phrasal Verbs

155 2.3

Contact someone after not talking for a while

87 3.4

To mention something briefly without giving details

Continue to talk or write to someone after you move away

45 3.6

To land on the ground after a flight

15 7.4

Make an event or strong reaction start suddenly

to touch oneself
  • Offensive
14 9.8

To touch your own private parts for sexual pleasure

14 3.5

To make brief contact to give or get an update

8 3.8

Make small changes to something to improve how it looks

3 4.0

To affect something or someone, often slightly

To put a plan aside and often leave it without action

8.4

To take a break from online life and spend time outside in nature

To touch your own sexual parts to feel pleasure at night

Compounds

A last small detail that makes something look or feel complete

19 2.7

A screen you touch to control a phone or tablet

touch-and-go
  • Informal
9 7.2

A situation that is dangerous or uncertain until the last moment

8 3.2

A version of American football where players touch the player with the ball to stop them instead of tackling

8 3.9

A small repair to make something look better

4 3.9

A gentle, brief contact made with little force

The ability to feel things through the skin

2 4.6

A way of connecting with ordinary people that makes them feel understood

A small extra detail that makes something feel nicer

golden touch
  • Informal
1 5.2

A skill for making projects succeed easily

1 3.7

A gentle way of touching or handling people and objects

1 4.6

A form of football where another player stops someone by touching them with both hands

bad touch
  • Offensive
1 9.0

Unwanted physical contact that makes someone feel scared or uncomfortable

A small detail that makes something look beautiful and special

1 3.6

A way to use all fingers on a keyboard without looking at it

touch-me-not
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A plant with seed pods that burst when you touch them and release seeds

1 4.1

Used for small repairs that make something look better

1 5.4

A person who uses a keyboard without looking at the keys

A small detail that makes something look brighter and happier

game of two touch
  • Australian
8.4

Touch football where another player touches someone twice to tackle them

9.8

A tendency to make everything a person touches fail

touch perception
  • Specialized
4.5

Ability to feel pressure, heat, or pain on the skin

touch modality
  • Specialized
7.0

The sense that lets you feel objects through physical contact

A small amount of care that makes something special

touch sensation
  • Specialized
3.9

A feeling on the skin when something presses or rests on it

To type by pressing keys without looking, using trained finger positions

touch-me-not
  • Specialized
9.5

A plant with leaves that fold together when you touch them

soft touch
  • Offensive
7.0

A person who easily agrees and can be taken advantage of

5.5

A practice where soccer players control and pass the ball using two touches

two touch
  • Jargon
6.2

A football exercise where each player may touch the ball only twice before passing

How Close

to match
841 1.0
to touch
36 4.8
to reach
1.0

Surface Forms

touch infinitive
touched past
touched past participle
touching present participle
touches third person singular

Etymology

Touch comes from the old French toucher, which meant to come into contact, so to touch something can also mean to reach or meet it, as when one thing just touches another.