touch
1468
touch down. phr v .[I] 1 (of a plane or spacecraft) to land 2 (in RUGBY) to press the ball to the ground behind one's opponent's GOAL in order to win a TRY
touch sbdy. for sthg. phr v [T] infml to persuade to give one (money): He tried to touch me for £10.
touch sthg. ⇔ off phr v [T] 1 to cause to explode 2 to start or cause (especially violent activity): The government's actions touched off a storm of protest.
touch on/upon sthg. phr v [T] to talk about shortly, and perhaps without enough detail: In her speech she touched on the need for further economies. | The major problems have hardly been touched on in this debate.
touch sthg./sbdy. ⇔ up phr v [T] 1 to improve by making small changes or additions: The car's paintwork needs touching up. 2 BrE infml to touch someone in a sexually improper way
touch² n 1 ·[U] the sense of feeling by which an object is known to be hard, smooth, rough etc, by being brought into connection with a part of the body, especially the fingers 2 [S] the effect caused by touching something; way something feels: the silky touch of soft velvet 3 [C usually sing.] an act of touching: He felt the touch of her hand on his shoulder. | With this new typewriter you can correct mistakes at the touch of a button. 4 [U] connection, especially so as to receive information; CONTACT: I'm trying to get in touch with my brother; he emigrated to Australia, and I lost touch with him/we lost touch (with each other). | I haven't really kept in touch with people I knew at school. | Goodbye for now; I'll be in touch. | I'd like to go back to teaching, but I'm out of touch with my subject now. | (fig., derog) So many of these politicians are out of touch. (=do not know about the realities of ordinary modern life) 5 [S] a particular way of doing things: This delicate work needs a woman's touch. | At this restaurant you get service with a personal touch. (=each customer is looked after in a careful friendly way) 6 [C] a small addition or detail that improves or completes something: That little windmill in the corner of the painting is a nice touch. | I'm just putting the finishing touches to the cake. 7 [S] a special ability to do something needing skill, especially artistic work: Your recent work's been bad; I hope you're not losing your touch. 8 [S(of)] a slight attack, especially of an illness: She was off work with a touch of flu. | I think I've had a touch of the sun. (=slight SUNSTROKE) 9 [S(of)] a slight amount: This soup could do with a touch more salt. | There was a touch of frost in the night. | That seemed a touch (=slightly) unfair to me. 10 [U] (in SOCCER or RUGBY) the area of ground outside the field of play: He kicked the ball into touch. 11 to the touch when felt: A cat's fur is soft to the touch. → see also SOFT TOUCH
,touch-and-'go adj risky; of uncertain result: a touch-and-go situation | It was touch-and-go whether the doctor would get there in time.
touch-down /'tʌtʃdaʊn/ n 1 the landing of a plane or spacecraft 2 (in RUGBY) an act of touching down (TOUCH down (2)) 3 (in American football) an act of moving the ball across the opposing team's GOAL LINE
tou·ché /'tu:ʃeɪ||tu:'ʃeɪ/ interj (an expression used when admitting the rightness or force of a person's argument, reply etc, meaning) 'That is a good point against me!'
touched /tʌtʃt/ adj [F] 1 feeling grateful: I was deeply touched by their present. | [+(that)/to-v] I'm touched that you remembered me/touched to be remembered. → see also TOUCH 2 infml slightly mad
'touch ,football n [U] AmE a game of American football in which touching the person with the ball stops play
touch·ing¹ /'tʌtʃɪŋ/ adj causing a feeling of pity, sympathy etc: The two lovers parting at the station - what a touching scene it made. → see also TOUCH —ily adv
touching² prep lit or old use about; concerning
touch·line /'tʌtʃlaɪn/ n a line along each of the two longer sides of a sports field, especially in football
touch·pa·per /'tʌtʃˌpeɪpə/ n 1 a piece of slow-burning paper fitted into a FIREWORK, which one lights in order to start the firework burning 2 light blue touchpaper and retire immediately BrE a written instruction on a FIREWORK, sometimes used humorously to mean that something noisy and violent, such as an angry quarrel, is just about to start and people should stay away
'touch screen n a type of computer screen that you touch, in order to tell the computer what to do or to get information
touch·stone /'tʌtʃstəʊn/ n [(of)] something used as a test or standard; CRITERION
,Touch-Tone 'phone, touch-tone phone trademark a type of telephone that produces different sounds when its different numbered buttons are pushed. Touch-Tone phones are widely used in the US to operate pre-recorded telephone information services.
'touch-type v [I] to type without having to look at the letters on the TYPEWRITER; read and type what one is reading at the same time
touch·y /'tʌtʃi/ adj 1 derog easily offended or annoyed; too sensitive: She's in a very touchy mood today. 2 needing skilful or delicate handling: a touchy situation in Northern Ireland —ily adv —iness n [U]
,touchy-'feely adj too concerned with feelings and emotions, rather than with facts or actions: a touchy-feely drama
tough¹ /tʌf/ adj 1 strong; not easily weakened or broken; able to suffer difficult or severe conditions: Only tough breeds of sheep can live in the mountains. | a tough vehicle designed for use on all kinds of road 2 derog difficult to cut or eat: tough meat → opposite TENDER 3 showing strong determination; UNCOMPROMISING: We won the contract, but only through a lot of tough negotiating. | the President's tough stance on terrorism 4 difficult to do or deal with; not easy; needing effort: a tough job/problem | She's a pretty tough customer/tough nut. (=a strong, difficult person) | The company faces tough competition. 5 rough; without kind or sympathetic feelings or manners: This is a tough neighbourhood. | The government has threatened to get tough with people who try to avoid paying taxes. 6 [(on)] infml unfortunate: Tough luck. | It's very tough on her that she should lose her job because of someone else's mistake. | 'I'm getting wet!' 'Tough! You should have brought your umbrella.' (said unsympathetically) → see also HARD LUCK —ly adv —ness n [U]
tough² n old-fash infml a rough violent person, especially a criminal
tough³ v
tough sthg. ⇔ out phr v [T] infml to get through and defeat (a difficult situation) by having a strong will: A lot of people would have resigned in the face of such accusations, but he stayed and toughed it out.
tough⁴ adv in a way that shows you are very determined: Washington played tough in the second half of the game. | You're talking tough now but you wait until you get into the interview.
tough·en /'tʌfən/ v [I;T(UP)] to become or make tough: toughened glass | Three years in the army toughened him up.
,tough 'luck interj, n HARD LUCK
Tou·louse-Lau·trec, Hen·ri de /tuˌluːz lɔː'trek, 'ɔːnri dəlɔːn'riː-/ (1864-1901) a French artist who lived in Montmartre in Paris and painted many pictures of PROSTITUTES, dancers, actors etc. He is best known for his POSTERS advertising performances by famous entertainers of his time, in theatres such as the MOULIN ROUGE.
tou·pee /'tu:peɪ||tu:'peɪ/ n a small artificial piece of hair specially shaped to fit exactly over a place on a man's head where the hair no longer grows
tour¹ /tʊə/ n 1 [(round, around)] a journey for pleasure, during which several places of interest are visited: a tour round Europe | a walking/cycling tour | a leading tour operator (=company that arranges holidays) → see also PACKAGE TOUR 2 [(round)] a short trip to or through a place, to see it: We went on a guided tour round the castle. | a city sightseeing tour 3 [(in)] a period of duty at a single place or job especially abroad: a two-year tour (of duty) in Germany 4 [(of)] a planned journey from place to place as made e.g. by a theatre company or a sports team, in order to perform, play, or appear in several places: the England cricketers' tour of India | The National Youth Theatre is on tour in the North at present. | The Queen was in Sydney today on the first leg (=stage) of her Australian tour.
tour² v [I(round);T] to visit on a tour: We're touring (round) Italy for our holidays this year. | a touring holiday