touch
Cross references:
1. king's evil 2. affect
1. touch \'t*ch\ \-*-b*l\ vb [ME touchen, fr. OF tuchier, fr. (assumed) VL
toccare to knoc]k, strike a bell, touch, or imit. origin 1: to bring a
bodily part into contact with esp. so as to perceive through the tactile
sense : PALPATE 2: to strike or push lightly esp. with the hand or foot or
an implement 3: to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) archaic
4a: to play on (a stringed instrument) 4b: to perform (a melody) by
playing or singing 5a: to take into the hands or mouth {never ~es alcohol}
5b: to put hands upon in any way or degree {don't ~ anything befor e the
police come}; esp : to commit violence upon {swears he never ~ed the child}
6: to concern oneself with 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 his spurs to his horse} 9a1: to meet without overlapping or
penetrating : ADJOIN 9a2: to get to : REACH {the speedometer needle ~ed 8
0} 9b: to be tangent to 9c: to rival in quality or value {nothing can ~
that cloth for dur ability} 10: to speak or tell of esp. in passing 11: to
affect the interest of : CONCERN 12a: to leave a mark or impression on
12b: to harm slightly by or as if by contact : TAINT, BLEMISHM {fruit ~ed
by frost} {a horse ~ed in the wind} 12c: to give a delicate tint, line, or
expression to {a smile ~ ed her lips} 13: to draw or delineate with light
strokes 14a: to hurt the feelings of : WOUND 14b: to move to sympathetic
feeling {~ed by the loyalty of h is friends} 1a: to feel something with a
body part (as the hand or foot) 1b: to lay hand or finger on a person to
cure disease (as scrofula) 2: to be in contact 3: to come close : VERGE
{his actions ~ on treason} 4: to have a bearing : RELATE - used with on or
upon 5a: to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by
water { ~ed at several ports} 5b: to treat a topic in a brief or casual
manner - used with on or upon {~ed upon many points} - touch.able aj
2. touch n 1: a light stroke, tap, or push 2: the act or fact of touching
3: the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or m
ucous membrane is perceived 4: mental or moral sensitiveness,
responsiveness, or tact 5: a specified sensation conveyed through the
tactile receptors : FEEL {the velvety ~ of a fabric} 6a: the act of
rubbing gold or silver on a touchstone to test its quality 6b: TEST, TRIAL
7a: a visible effect : MARK 7b: WEAKNESS, DEFECT 8: something slight of
its kind : as 8a: a light attack {~ of fever} 8b: a small quantity :
TRACE {~ of spring in the air} 8c: a transient emotion {momentary ~ of
compunction} archaic 9a: the playing of an instrument (as a lute or
piano) with the fingers; also : musical notes or strains so produced 9b: a
manner or method of touching or striking esp. the keys of a keyboard
instrument 9c: particular action of a keyboard instrument with reference to
the resist ance of its keys to pressure {piano with a stiff ~} 10: a set of
changes in change ringing less than the total number possible or less than
a peal 11: a delicate stroke in creating or improving an artistic
composition 12: distinctive manner or method {the ~ of a master} 13: a
characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality slang 14: an act of
soliciting or getting a gift or loan 15: the state or fact of being in
contact or communication 16: the area outside of the sidelines in soccer
or outside of and including the touchlines in rugby
Webster's English Dictionary