touch off

desencadenar, provocar

Hacer que empiece algo, sobre todo un problema que puede agravarse rápidamente.

En inglés sencillo: To cause something to start, especially trouble that may quickly become worse.

• His joke touched off an argument.
• The arrests touched off protests across the city.
• Could this decision touch off another crisis?

Cómo se usa: touch off something (The announcement touched off a heated debate.)

Sinónimos: trigger, spark, set off

Expresiones frecuentes: touch off protests, touch off an argument, touch something off

prender, provocar un incendio

Hacer que algo empiece a arder o provocar un incendio.

En inglés sencillo: To make a fire start.

• A spark touched off the fire.
• The hot engine touched off a grass fire.
• One match can touch off a forest fire.

Cómo se usa: touch off something (A faulty wire touched off a fire.)

Sinónimos: ignite, start, set off

Antónimos: extinguish

Expresiones frecuentes: touch off a fire, touch off forest fires

ajustar el cero por contacto

Fijar la posición inicial de una herramienta de máquina tocando suavemente el material o una superficie de la máquina.

En inglés sencillo: To set a machine tool's starting position by bringing it gently against the material or machine surface.

• Touch off the tool before cutting.
• She touched off on the metal block.
• Have you touched off the cutter on the machine bed?

Cómo se usa: touch off on something (Touch off on the top surface before cutting.)

Sinónimos: set the tool datum

Expresiones frecuentes: touch off the tool, touch off on something