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to put your hand or another part of your body lightly onto and off something or someone:
That paint is wet - don't touch (it).
He touched the girl on the arm to get her attention.
The boy touched the worm with (= using, in his hand) a twig.
figurative The setting sun touched the trees with red (= made them appear red for a short time).
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(of two or more things) to be so close together that there is no space between; to be in contact:
He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
She pushed the two bookcases together until they touched/were touching.
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to harm someone, or use or damage something:
Please don't touch any of my stuff while I'm away.
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(usually used in negative sentences) to eat or drink something:
They didn't touch any of the food we left for them.
Honestly, I haven't touched a drop (= drunk any alcohol) all night.
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to influence someone or something emotionally, or cause feelings of sympathy in someone:
Tragedy touched their lives when their son was 16.
The TV report about the children's work for charity touched thousands of people's hearts.
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(usually used in negative sentences) to have or reach the same standard (= level of quality) as someone or something:
Her novels can't touch (= are not as good as) those of her sister.
There's no one to touch him as an illustrator of children's books.
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a small amount:
"Would you like milk?" "Just a touch."
There was a touch of irony/humour in her voice.
I had a touch of flu/hay fever.
The speech had several comic touches.
Using a sailing ship as the company logo was a touch of genius (= a good/clever idea or action).
The flowers on the table provided the finishing touch.
The weather has turned a touch too cold for my liking.
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the ability to know what something is like by feeling it with the fingers:
the sense of touch
I found the right coin in the dark by touch.
The material was soft to the touch.
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a quick, light movement of one thing, especially a hand, onto and off another thing:
I felt a cold touch on my arm.
At a/the touch of a button, the door opened.
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to communicate or continue to communicate with someone by using a phone or writing to them:
Are you still in touch with any of your old school friends?
Jen and I never kept in touch after college.
We're in close touch with our office in Spain.
We lost touch over the years.
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an ability to do things in the stated, especially positive, way:
He has a deft touch with tricky painting jobs.
She gave the job her own special/magic/professional/personal touch.
I admire her lightness/sureness of touch as a cook.
He used to be a good writer but I think he's losing his touch.
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in sports such as football, a player's ability to control the ball and make it do what they want, or an occasion when a player controls the ball with their foot:
Nicolas Anelka squandered the chance to score when his touch let him down in front of goal.
Hazard took several touches before crossing.
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the area outside either of the long edges of the space on which football and rugby are played:
Playing for safety, he kicked the ball into touch.
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If you are in touch/out of touch with a subject, activity, or situation, your knowledge about it is recent/not recent:
He's not really in touch with what young people are interested in.
I didn't see any news all the time I was on holiday, so I'm completely out of touch.
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to put the fingers or hand lightly on or against something:
[ I ] That paint is wet, so don’t touch.
[ T ] She can’t touch the money from her father until she’s 21.
[ T ] I never touch candy.
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to be so close together that there is no space between:
[ T ] Don’t let the back of the chair touch the wall.
[ I ] Push the bookcases together until they touch.
[ T ] Her cooking can’t touch her sister’s.
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to cause someone to feel sympathetic or grateful:
Your kindness has touched my family.
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a skill or special quality:
He seems to be losing his touch at poker.
The flowers were a nice touch.
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a small amount:
There was a touch of regret in her voice.
I had a touch of flu yesterday.
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the state of being close together or in contact with someone or something
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the ability to know what something is like by putting your hand or fingers on it:
[ U ] This cloth is soft to the touch.
[ C ] At a touch of the button, the door opened.
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to put your fingers or hand lightly on the surface of something:
Don't touch the machine when it's in use.
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used to say that someone or something is the best of a particular kind:
As a hard worker, no one can touch him.
This computer is so powerful, no other laptop can touch it.
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to talk with someone for a short time:
He wants to touch base on some of the significant items that we've been dealing with.
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a small addition or detail which makes something better:
Adding music to your presentation was a nice touch.
I am just putting the finishing touches to my monthly report.
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communicating or continuing to communicate with someone by phone, email, etc.:
get/keep/stay in touch (with sb) We need to get in touch with our suppliers right away.
Let's keep in touch over the next few days while the installation is in progress.
in touch with sth It's very important to stay in touch with the practices of other employers in the city.