# touch

/ˈtətʃ/ (US) · /tˈʌtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/touch
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical contact

verb · CEFR A1

to put your hand or another part of your body on something.

For teachers: to bring a bodily part or an object into physical contact with another object.

- Please do not touch the paintings in the museum.
- The wet paint sign was clearly visible, yet he couldn't resist the urge to touch the surface to see if it was still tacky.

### 2. to affect emotionally

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone feel a strong emotion, like sadness or gratitude.

For teachers: to elicit a strong emotional response, typically sympathy, gratitude, or compassion.

- I was deeply touched by the kind letter you sent me.
- The audience was visibly touched by the soloist's performance, which captured the melancholy of the piece with extraordinary sensitivity.

### 3. to reach a level

verb · CEFR B2

to reach a certain point, level, or quality.

For teachers: to reach or attain a specific standard, amount, or level. Often used in negative constructions to mean 'cannot compare to'.

- Temperatures touched thirty degrees during the heatwave.
- While many brands attempt to replicate this traditional recipe, none can quite touch the quality of the original handmade version.

### 4. the sense of feeling

noun · CEFR A2

one of the five senses; the ability to feel things with your skin.

For teachers: the tactile sense by which contact with the body is perceived.

- The fabric was very soft to the touch.
- The nerve damage in his fingertips had significantly dulled his sense of touch, making delicate tasks nearly impossible.

### 5. communication

noun · CEFR A2

being in contact or communication with someone.

For teachers: the state of being in communication or having current knowledge about something. Usually in the phrases 'in touch' or 'out of touch'.

- Let's keep in touch while you are away at university.
- Despite living in different hemispheres for a decade, the two researchers remained in close touch via weekly correspondence.

### 6. a small amount

noun · CEFR B1

a very small amount of something.

For teachers: a slight amount, trace, or degree of a quality or substance. Often used with 'of'.

- The soup needs a touch more salt.
- The designer added a touch of gold leaf to the frame, providing just enough shimmer to catch the light without appearing gaudy.

### 7. skill or style

noun · CEFR B1

a special skill or a personal way of doing something.

For teachers: a distinctive manner or method of handling something; also refers to a person's level of skill or aptitude.

- The garden really shows a professional's touch.
- The chef's light touch with delicate seafood ensured that the natural flavours were enhanced rather than overwhelmed by the sauce.

### 8. musical technique

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the way a musician hits the keys or strings of an instrument.

For teachers: the manner or style of striking the keys of a piano or the strings of an instrument to produce a specific tone.

- The pianist is famous for her delicate touch.
- His heavy-handed touch on the organ was ill-suited to the subtle nuances required for the Baroque repertoire.

### 9. request for money

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

an attempt to get money from someone by asking or tricking them.

For teachers: an act of soliciting money or a favour, often from an acquaintance. Informal and often carries a slightly negative connotation.

- He's always an easy touch for anyone with a sad story.
- Knowing his uncle was a soft touch, he prepared a convincing explanation for why he needed an immediate loan.

## Examples

- A gentle touch on the arm can be comforting.
- The baby explored the new toy with a curious touch, feeling its different textures.
- The chef added a final touch of salt, demonstrating that seasoning is as much about feel as it is about measurement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.