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physical contact

physical contact

27 2.0
Touch between people or between a person and an object
  • noun
  • /ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈkɒntækt/
translation icon : contacto físico
  • Rudy's phobia about physical contact had created an apartment that was solitary and sterile.
  • actual physical contact
  • direct physical contact
  • close physical contact

So no physical contact with your boat or your crew, no resting on the boat.

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Examples

  • For all our sakes, I think, for now, you two should cease all physical contact.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • But physical contact is essential for health, for healing, for Wellness.

  • You must have no physical contact.

  • There was no physical contact.

  • No physical contact of any kind.

  • No physical contact with plague victims is allowed.

  • The teacher can show individualized attention to the child in many cases by making physical contact.

    Academic text (1992)
  • According to the guidelines, there should be no physical contact during the training sessions.

  • The doctor explained that physical contact can sometimes lead to the transmission of germs.

  • After the incident, they were informed that physical contact in the game was against the rules.

Synonyms

contact
vsphysical contact
371 1.0

Physical touching between people or things

is about direct bodily interaction rather than general physical connection
touching
vsphysical contact
2.5

Contact when two things are put together with no space between them

focuses on bodily interaction rather than simple joining of objects

Antonyms

89 2.6

The process of moving apart or staying apart

physical distancing
  • Literature
3.7

Keeping space between people to avoid spreading illness

How Forceful

impaction
9.3
physical contact
27 2.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

physical + contact

The meaning 'the state or act of touching' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'physical' (relating to the body) with 'contact' (touch or touching). This adjective+noun compositional pattern is common across languages and follows standard English semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The phrase physical contact paints a clear image: physical means the body and contact means a touch between two things. So it simply refers to 'touching' or 'being touched' by another person or object.