- touch
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 act of touching sb/sthADJECTIVE▪ delicate, gentle, light, slight▪
The slightest touch will set off the alarm.
PREPOSITION▪ at sb/sth's touch▪The door swung open at his touch.
▪You can now shop at the touch of a button.
PHRASES▪ be cold, hot, soft, etc. to the touch▪The solid rock was warm to the touch.
2 small detailADJECTIVE▪ final, finishing▪ decorative, festive, homely (BrE), romantic▪The family photos add a homely touch.
▪The candles gave the table a romantic touch.
▪ humorous▪ classy, lovely (esp. BrE), nice, professional▪Giving her flowers was a nice touch.
▪ feminine, human, individual, personal▪ little, small, subtle▪The decor includes many individual little touches.
VERB + TOUCH▪ add, give sth, put▪She's just putting the finishing touches to her painting.
3 particular abilityADJECTIVE▪ golden, magic▪ deft, sure (esp. BrE)▪She seemed to have a deft touch with comedy.
▪With students she had a sure touch and showed great personal sensitivity.
▪ light▪He handles this controversial subject with a light touch.
▪ political▪He found his old political touch when the crisis emerged.
▪ shooting (AmE) (in basketball)▪He must regain his shooting touch.
VERB + TOUCH▪ have▪ find▪ lack▪ lose▪Maybe the champion is losing her magic touch.
PHRASES▪ the common touch▪a politician who lacked the common touch
4 small amount of sthADJECTIVE▪ little, subtle▪ welcome▪ right▪He has just the right touch of arrogance for the role.
VERB + TOUCH▪ add, bring▪Her speech brought a welcome touch of frivolity to the evening.
PREPOSITION▪ with a touch of▪‘Thanks,’ she said, with a touch of sarcasm.
▪ touch of5 contactADJECTIVE▪ close▪The security staff were in close touch with the local police.
VERB + TOUCH▪ get in▪I'm trying to get in touch with Jane. Do you have her number?
▪ keep in, stay in▪It is important to keep in touch with the latest research.
▪Let's keep in touch.
▪ put sb in▪I'll put you in touch with someone in your area.
▪ lose▪I've lost touch with all my old friends.
PREPOSITION▪ in touch▪Are you still in touch with your friends from college?
▪ out of touch▪This government is increasingly out of touch with ordinary voters.
▪ touch with{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}verb1 put your hand on sb/sth; be in contact with sb/sthADVERB▪ (not) actually, not even, not quite▪He did not actually touch the substance, but may have inhaled it.
▪ barely, hardly, scarcely▪You've hardly touched your food (= not eaten it).
▪ almost, nearly, practically▪Their faces were almost touching.
▪ just▪ briefly▪His fingers briefly touched hers.
▪ gently, lightly▪ gingerly▪ accidentally, inadvertently▪He accidentally touched a live wire.
▪ never▪He said I kicked him, but I never touched him!
VERB + TOUCH▪ want to▪ (not) dare (to)▪Don't you dare touch me!
▪ reach out, over, up, etc. to▪Her hand reached out to touch his cheek.
▪ let sb▪He wouldn't let me touch the wound.
PREPOSITION▪ on▪He touched her gently on the arm.
▪ with▪She touched him with her hand.
PHRASES▪ (be) careful not to touch sth▪She hugged him, being careful not to touch his broken wrist.
▪ close enough to touch sb/sth▪He was close enough to touch her.
2 make sb feel a strong emotionADVERB▪ deeply▪The story touched me very deeply.
PHRASAL VERBtouch on/upon sthADVERB▪ briefly▪ just, merely▪Photography is merely touched on in the book.
VERB + TOUCH ON/UPON▪ want to▪I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
