touch

To put your hand or another part of your body against someone or something.

• Please do not touch the glass.
• She touched my arm gently.
• Can I touch the soft blanket?

How to use it: touch someone/something (He touched the cold window.)

Similar words: feel

Common phrases: touch something, touch someone, touch the surface

To meet another object or surface, often without meaning to.

• My feet touch the floor.
• The branches touched the roof.
• The two circles touch at one point.

Similar words: meet, make contact with

Common phrases: touch the ground, touch the ceiling, barely touch

To make someone feel strong emotion, especially love, sadness, or sympathy.

• Your kindness touched me.
• Her story touched everyone in the room.
• I was deeply touched by their welcome.

How to use it: be touched by something (She was touched by his thoughtful gift.)

Similar words: move

Common phrases: touch someone deeply, touch the heart

To steer a ship as close as possible to the direction the wind comes from.

• The captain tried to touch the wind.
• The small ship touched the wind under reduced sail.
• Can this vessel touch the wind without losing speed?

Common phrases: touch the wind, touch wind

An act of putting a hand or another body part against someone or something.

• I felt a touch on my shoulder.
• A light touch woke the baby.
• She comforted him with a gentle touch.

Similar words: contact

Common phrases: a gentle touch, a light touch, touch of something

The sense that lets you feel things through your skin.

• We recognize textures through touch.
• She found the switch by touch.
• The injury affected his sense of touch.

Similar words: tactition, tact, tactility, taction

Common phrases: sense of touch, by touch, through touch

A small amount of a feeling, quality, or substance.

• Add a touch of salt.
• His voice had a touch of anger.
• The curtains bring a touch of color to the room.

How to use it: a touch of something (A touch of cream makes the soup richer.)

Similar words: hint, dash, trace

Common phrases: a touch of, touch of sadness, touch of humor

A small detail that gives something a particular style or character.

• The flowers are a nice touch.
• She added personal touches to the room.
• A handwritten note gave the gift a special touch.

Similar words: detail, feature

Common phrases: personal touch, finishing touch, nice touch