Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - touch

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French tucher, tuchier, from Vulgar Latin *toccare to knock, strike a bell, ~, probably of imitative origin  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense ; handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate loved to ~ the soft silk  2. to strike or push lightly especially with the hand or foot or an implement  3. to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal  4. archaic  a. to play on (a stringed instrument)  b. to perform (a melody) by playing or singing  5.  a. to take into the hands or mouth never ~es alcohol  b. to put hands upon in any way or degree don't ~ anything before the police come; especially to commit violence upon swears he never ~ed the child  6. to deal with ; become involved with a sticky situation and I wouldn't ~ it with a 10-foot pole  7. to induce to give or lend ~ed him for ten dollars  8. to cause to be briefly in contact or conjunction with something ~ed her spurs to the horse ~ed his hand to his hat  9.  a.  (1) to meet without overlapping or penetrating ; adjoin  (2) to get to ; reach the speedometer needle ~ed 80  b. to be tangent to  c. to rival in quality or value nothing can ~ that cloth for durability  10. to speak or tell of especially in passing barely ~ed the incident in the speech  11.  a. to relate to ; concern  b. to have an influence on ; affect  12.  a. to leave a mark or impression on few reagents will ~ gold; also tinge  b. to harm slightly by or as if by contact ; taint, blemish fruit ~ed by frost  c. to give a delicate tint, line, or expression to a smile ~ed her lips  d. to get a hit off or score a run against ~ed him for three runs  13. to draw or delineate with light strokes  14.  a. to hurt the feelings of ; wound  b. to move to sympathetic feeling  intransitive verb  1.  a. to feel something with a body part (as the hand or foot)  b. to lay hand or finger on a person to cure disease (as scrofula)  2. to be in contact  3. to come close ; verge your actions ~ on treason  4. to have a bearing ; relate — used with on or upon  5.  a. to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by water ~ed at several ports  b. to treat a topic in a brief or casual manner — used with on or upon ~ed upon many points  Synonyms: see affect  • ~able adjective  • ~er noun  II. noun  Date: 14th century  1.  a. a light stroke, tap, or push  b. a hit against an opponent in fencing  2. the act or fact of ~ing; also the act or an instance of handling or controlling a ball (as in basketball or soccer)  3. the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived  4. mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness, or tact has a wonderful ~ with children  5. a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors ; feel the velvety ~ of velour  6.  a. archaic the act of rubbing gold or silver on a ~stone to test its quality  b. test, trial — used chiefly in the phrase put to the ~  7.  a. a visible effect ; mark a ~ of the tropical sun  b. weakness, defect  8. something slight of its kind: as  a. a light attack a ~ of fever  b. a small quantity or indication ; hint a ~ of spring in the air  c. a transient emotion a momentary ~ of compunction  d. a near approach ; close call beaten in the championships by a mere ~  9.  a. archaic the playing of an instrument (as a lute or piano) with the fingers; also musical notes or strains so produced  b. particular action of a keyboard with reference to the resistance of its keys to pressure piano with a stiff ~  10. control of the hands: as  a. a manner or method of ~ing or striking especially the keys of a keyboard instrument  B. ability to precisely control the path and speed of a shot or pass a great shooting ~  11. a set of changes in change ringing that is less than a peal  12.  a. an effective and subtle detail applies the finishing ~es to the story  b. distinctive and often effective manner or method the ~ of a master  c. a characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality  13. slang an act of soliciting or getting a gift or loan  14. the state or fact of being in contact or communication or of having awareness lost ~ with her cousin let's keep in ~ out of ~ with modern times  15. the area outside of the ~lines in soccer or outside of and including the ~lines in rugby the ball went into ~