Tra từ touch - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

touch [touch touches touched touching] verb, noun BrE [tʌtʃ] NAmE [tʌtʃ]
verb

WITH HAND/PART OF BODY
1. transitive ~ sb/sth to put your hand or another part of your body onto sb/sth
• Don't touch that plate— it's hot!
• Can you touch your toes? (= bend and reach them with your hands)
•I touched him lightly on the arm.
•He has hardly touched the ball all game.
• (figurative)I must do some more work on that article— I haven't touched it all week.

NO SPACE BETWEEN
2. intransitive, transitive (of two or more things, surfaces, etc.)to be or come so close together that there is no space between
• Make sure the wires don't touch.
•~ sth Don't let your coat touch the wet paint.
•His coat was so long it was almost touching the floor.
•The dancer's feet hardly seemed to touch the ground.

MOVE STH/HIT SB
3. transitive (often in negative sentences)~ sth/sb to move sth, especially in such a way that you damage it; to hit or harm sb
• I told you not to touch my things.
• He said I kicked him, but I never touched him!

AFFECT SB/STH
4. transitive ~ sb/sth (to do sth) to make sb feel upset or sympathetic
• Her story touched us all deeply.
• What he said really touched my heart.
5. transitive ~ sb/sth (old-fashioned or formal)to affect or concern sb/sth
•These are issues that touch us all.

EAT/DRINK/USE
6. transitive (usually in negative sentences)~ sth to eat, drink or use sth
•You've hardly touched your food.
•He hasn't touched the money his aunt left him.

EQUAL SB
7. transitive (usually in negative sentences)~ sb to be as good as sb in skill, quality, etc
•No one can touch him when it comes to interior design.

REACH LEVEL
8. transitive ~ sth to reach a particular level, etc
•The speedometer was touching 90.

BE INVOLVED WITH
9. transitive ~ sth/sb to become connected with or work with a situation or person
•Everything she touches turns to disaster.
•His last two movies have been complete flops and now no studio will touch him.

OF SMILE
10. transitive ~ sth to be seen on sb's face for a short time
•A smile touched the corners of his mouth.
more at strike/touch a chord at ↑chord, touch/tug you forelock at ↑forelock, not harm/touch a hair of sb's head at ↑hair, hit/touch a (raw/sensitive) nerve at ↑nerve _n., catch/touch sb on the raw at ↑raw _n.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English: the verb from Old French tochier, probably from a Romance word of imitative origin; the noun originally from Old French touche, later (in certain senses) directly from the verb.

Example Bank:
•Don't you dare touch me!
•He accidentally touched a live wire attached to overhead power cables.
•He did not actually touch the substance, but may have inhaled it.
•He touched her gently on the arm.
•He was close enough to touch her.
•He wouldn't let me touch the wound.
•Her hand reached out to touch his cheek.
•His fingers briefly touched hers.
•I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.
•Photography is merely touched on in the book.
•Photojournalism and the birth of photography are merely touched on in the book.
•She hugged him, being careful not to touch his broken wrist.
•She touched him with her hand.
•The story touched me very deeply.
•Their faces were almost touching.
•Can you touch your toes?
•Don't let your coat touch the wet paint.
•Don't touch that plate— it's hot!
•Even the most remote areas are now directly touched by political, educational and medical advances.
•I had been touched by his kindness to my aunts.
•I must do some more work on that article— I haven't touched it all week.
•Make sure the wires don't touch.
•The dancer's feet hardly seemed to touch the ground.
•The life of a shepherd has been only marginally touched by technological change.
Idioms: ↑a soft touch ▪ be/become out of touch ▪ be/get/keep in touch ▪ be/keep in touch ▪ ↑lose touch ▪ ↑not touch somebody with a bargepole ▪ ↑out of touch ▪ ↑touch base ▪ ↑touch bottom ▪ ↑touch wood ▪ ↑touched with something
Derived: ↑touch down ▪ ↑touch on something ▪ ↑touch somebody for something ▪ ↑touch somebody up ▪ ↑touch something off ▪ ↑touch something up

noun

SENSE
1. uncountable the sense that enables you to be aware of things and what they are like when you put your hands and fingers on them
•the sense of touch

WITH HAND/PART OF BODY
2. countable, usually singular an act of putting your hand or another part of your body onto sb/sth
• The gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder made her jump.
• All this information is readily available at the touch of a button (= by simply pressing a button).
•This type of engraving requires a delicate touch.
•She played the piano with a light touch.

WAY STH FEELS
3. singular the way that sth feels when you put your hand or fingers on it or when it comes into contact with your body
•The body was cold to the touch.
•material with a smooth silky touch
•He could not bear the touch of clothing on his sunburnt skin.

SMALL DETAIL
4. countable a small detail that is added to sth in order to improve it or make it complete
• I spent the morning putting the finishing touches to the report.
• Meeting them at the airport was a nice touch.
•Bright cushions add a decorative touch to a room.

WAY OF DOING STH
5. singular a way or style of doing sth
•She prefers to answer any fan mail herself for a more personal touch.
•Computer graphics will give your presentation the professional touch.
•He couldn't find his magic touch with the ball today (= he didn't play well).
•This meal is awful. I think I'm losing my touch (= my ability to do sth).

SMALL AMOUNT
6. countable, usually singular ~ of sth a very small amount
Syn: ↑trace
• There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
• There could be a touch of frost tonight.

SLIGHTLY
7. a touchsingular slightly; a little
•The music was a touch too loud for my liking.

IN FOOTBALL/RUGBY
8. uncountable the area outside the lines that mark the sides of the playing field
•He kicked the ball into touch.
more at common touch at ↑common _adj., kick sth into touch at ↑kick _v., a light touch at ↑light _adj.

Word Origin:
Middle English: the verb from Old French tochier, probably from a Romance word of imitative origin; the noun originally from Old French touche, later (in certain senses) directly from the verb.

Example Bank:
•Giving her flowers was a nice touch.
•He found his old political touch when the crisis emerged.
•He handles this controversial subject with a light touch.
•He has just the right touch of arrogance for the role.
•He must regain his shooting touch.
•Her speech brought a welcome touch of frivolity to the evening.
•Maybe the champion is losing her magic touch.
•Sculpture potentially appeals to the sense of touch as well as sight.
•She seemed to have a deft touch with comedy.
•She's just putting the finishing touches to her painting.
•The candles gave the table a romantic touch.
•The decor includes many idiosyncratic little touches.
•The door swung open at his touch.
•The family photos add a homely touch.
•The security staff were in close touch with the local police.
•The slightest touch will set off the alarm.
•The solid rock was warm to the touch.
•They had to identify various materials by touch.
•This government is increasingly out of touch with ordinary voters.
•With students she had a sure touch and showed great personal sensitivity.
•You can now do your shopping at the touch of a button.
•a politician who lacked the common touch
•All this information is readily available at the touch of a button.
•Give your garden a touch of class with a sundial as a focal point.
•He couldn't find his magic touch with the ball today.
•I did that very badly. I think I'm losing my touch.
•She has learnt to recognize the raised patterns of Braille by touch.
•The bird depends largely on an extremely delicate sense of touch to find its prey.

See also: ↑knock on wood ▪ ↑not touch somebody with a ten-foot pole