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词汇 touch
释义

Definition of touch in English:

touch

verb tʌtʃtətʃ
[with object]

  • 1Come into or be in contact with.

    he leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor
    Example sentencesExamples
    • His arms remained stretched out above him, his knees were almost, but not quite, touching the floor.
    • Then their lips touched for just a moment and then they drew back slightly.
    • Lie on the floor, face down, toes touching the ground and elbows positioned below your shoulders.
    • She was curled up in a cozy little ball with her arms around her knees, nightshirt trailing beneath her like a ghostly shroud, not quite touching the floor.
    • The long sleeves widened and ended in points that did not quite touch the ground.
    • He was incredibly professional looking, his black and gray robes nearly touching the floor.
    • And he's the only man I've ever seen who could sit in a chair and touch both elbows on the floor.
    • Her raven hair was brushed down nearly touching her shoulders.
    • His head hung low, with his chin nearly touching his chest.
    • Descend until your left knee bends 90 degrees and your right knee nearly touches the floor.
    • Of course, in my dreams I neither escape nor do I falter and stumble - I run hard, but my feet don't quite touch the ground, so I don't actually move.
    • She sat straight in her chair, the small of her back never touching the chair.
    • Its majestic branches drooped dramatically, some nearly touching the ground, but all providing a cozy little curtain whenever the crew decided to hang around at its grassy base.
    • Clearings exhibited large quantities of grapes that crept along from shrub to shrub, their huge bunches of fruit nearly touching the ground.
    • Samantha had remained erect, very still, and dry-eyed, her back not touching the witness chair.
    • Knees bent fully, her skirt flares like a golden fan nearly touching the floor.
    • His feet weren't quite touching the top of the roof.
    • She was still hanging over the edge of the bunk, the ends of her hair nearly touching my covers.
    Synonyms
    be in contact (with), come into contact (with), come together (with), meet, join, connect, converge (with), be contiguous (with), border (on), be (up) against, link up (with), adjoin, abut, neighbour
    1. 1.1 Bring one's hand or another part of one's body into contact with.
      使（手或身体其他部分）接触，碰
      he touched a strand of her hair

      他摸了一下她的一缕头发。

      Andrew touched him on the shoulder
      Example sentencesExamples
      • When he finally died, they touched his body as they bound him in a sheet, feeling the paper thin skin, almost touching bone.
      • Her face was cold and lifeless… it was just like touching a dead body.
      • He was a bit too close for comfort, but it felt good to feel his body occasionally touching mine.
      • She said the move, however, attracted call boys who began shouting and touching her body instead of helping her.
      • He didn't grip her tightly but barely let his fingers touch her body.
      • I felt slender fingers touch my chin and brought it upwards to meet his beautiful eyes.
      • I imagined just touching his weakened body, and it breaking into shards like a china doll.
      • She reached out to him, her whole body quivering, and touched his hand.
      • Nowadays, you know, my children are very aware, it's like you know, this is my body and you can't touch it.
      • It is by virtue of this principle that the doctor who treats him, the nurse who cares for him, even the relative or friend or neighbour who comes in to look after him will commit no wrong when he or she touches his body.
      • I can't stand to even touch my own body, to wash, even get dressed.
      • He took in a deep breath, touching my body gently, tenderly… hesitantly.
      • None of the police officers at the scene said they had touched the body.
      • He feels the officers watching as he touches the body with his latex-gloved hand.
      • Stealthily I moved in, until I was so close I could have actually touched the little body that lay motionless in the grass in front of me.
      • A mother who picks up an affected new-born baby suddenly discovers she has left a trail of blisters across its body - just by touching it gently.
      Synonyms
      press lightly, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke
      feel, stroke, rub, rub (up) against, brush, brush (up) against, graze
      fondle, caress, pet, tickle, toy with, play about with, fiddle with, finger, thumb, handle
      put one's hand on, lay a hand on, lay a finger on
    2. 1.2 Come or bring into mutual contact.
      no object for a moment their fingers touched

      他们的手指一时碰到了一起。

      with object we touched wheels and nearly came off the road

      我们的车轮相撞，差点开出路面。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Our fingers touched, and electricity crackled in the night.
      • But the moment their lips touched, he knew something inside of him had changed.
      • The moment their lips touched, Kynan's inner battle was lost.
      • Finally, their lips touched and for a moment, Tyler found himself in a haze.
      • She hands him back his credit card, and their fingers touch for a moment.
      • The moment our lips touched, it was like a dam breaking and he grabbed me, kissing me hard, pushing me back against the bookcase.
      • Their lips touched softly and fused into a long, slow embrace.
      • For a brief second their lips touched in a light kiss, the caress of each other sending shivers down their spins.
      • How many times had he wished that the moments their fingers touched, their shoulders brushed, their eyes met, that they could tell each other what the both already knew?
      • The air around them seemed to be charged with electricity as their lips touched.
      • Walking into the youth room, where the senior high Sunday school class met, my mind instantly recalled the moment our lips touched.
      • Right before our lips touched, he jumped back and pulled his hand away as if he suddenly realized what was about to happen.
      • Their hands touched slightly when they went to grab their drinks.
      • Their fingers touched momentarily, but it sent a familiar tingling through him.
      • They reached, and for one agonising moment they touched fingers…
      • It felt like an eternity before Lena would release her hold, but the moment their lips touched and their eyes closed, time lost all meaning.
      • Before their lips touched, however, he hesitated slightly and looked at Molly to make sure she was okay with this.
      • I felt a shiver run up my spine as our shoulders touched, and I moved away from him slightly.
      • He held her hand until only their fingertips touched, then the distance became too great and the contact was lost.
      • Their hands touched slightly and Ann pulled back as though she had been burned.
    3. 1.3with object and adverbial of direction Strike (a ball) lightly in a specified direction.
      轻轻击（球）
      he touched back a cross-field ball

      他把一个穿场球轻轻地打了回去。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • A cross from Pat Gaughan found Wayne Crossley and he touched the ball into the bottom corner.
      • The supporting Rob Bourne was tackled almost on the line. A ruck was formed, and hooker Matt Hartley touched the ball down to score an unconverted try.
      • Superb play from Ballack, who robbed Fabregas and then touched the ball past him to earn a time-wasting free-kick.
      • Within a minute of the restart, Keeler was on target again to give Dorchester the lead, touching the ball past Wilson after being put clear in the box.
    4. 1.4Geometry Be tangent to (a curve or surface) at a certain point.
      〔几何〕与（曲线，表面）切触

  • 2Handle in order to interfere with, alter, or otherwise affect.

    （尤指用有害的方式）处理，改变，影响

    I didn't play her records or touch any of her stuff

    我没有放她的唱片，也没有碰过她别的任何东西。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • King Charles Court had not been touched for 30 years.
    • McLaren were also fined even though the contents of the box were not touched and were legal.
    • We have found them in beds, hidden in children's rooms, in cellars with locked doors that do not look as though they have been touched for 30 years.
    • Blogger's new image feature has screwed up my template which I haven't touched in years.
    • Nevertheless, these are dangerous animals and should not be touched or interfered with in any way by divers.
    • I hadn't touched the gear handle or flaps after the shot, and, therefore, reasoned the gear and flaps still were down.
    • Education chiefs in York have pledged not to touch the amount of money going to schools, despite planned budget cuts of £884,000.
    Synonyms
    handle, hold, pick up, move
    meddle with, play (about/around) with, toy with, fiddle with, interfere with, tamper with, disturb, harm, lay a hand on, lay a finger on
    use, employ, make use of, put to use, have access to, access, avail oneself of, get (at), take advantage of
    1. 2.1 Cause harm to (someone)
      给（某人）造成伤害
      I've got friends who'll pull strings—nobody will dare touch me

      我有一些关系很硬的朋友，没人敢碰我。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • There had been talk among their generals to bring her here before, but none had dared to touch her.
      • An enormous hate wells up in her for the man who would dare to touch her mother; the woman who works herself almost to death to provide for her child.
      • As far as Kip knew, no one in Pete's neighborhood had touched him since, but Pete was always careful to sleep over at Kip's house after a late game.
      • ‘The only one good thing about Kyle being shot at a party where several people where killed is that no one can touch him for all of the police that will be around him’ Blaze explained to the rest.
      • It wasn't that the government had left a legal loophole before 1974, whereby you could put a bomb in a pub and they couldn't touch you for it.
      • After writing this article I could get into my car, strap a pork pie to my head and sing the national anthem while chugging down the motorway at a cool 70 mph and they could not touch me for it.
      • Her brother Ephes has murderous tendencies towards anyone who dares to touch her.
      • If you dared touch her you are as good as dead and that is by my law!
      • I'm going to fight if you touch me or hurt me or do harm to my family.
      • If they dare to touch me again, they will see what will happen to them.
      • If you try to harm me, or touch me, you may suffer a worse fate.
      • The fearsome, spotted creature was a kitten in his hands and ruthless to anyone else that dared to touch her.
      • Perceptions gathered during the consultation process include resentment about policing methods and that Asian young men in gangs are alleged to boast that police dare not touch them for fear they would riot.
      • Just smear some on your neck and I promise you, no vampire will touch you for a decade.
      • My stepmom didn't dare to touch me anymore and it's still the same between me and my dad.
      • But Alexander did not leave, he came closer, but did not dare to touch me.
      • It can be flown in all shapes and sizes, there is no right way up, as there is with the Union flag; you can stick it in an office window and they can't touch you for it.
      • ‘I don't see why you're so concerned,’ he spat back, unable to control his words, ‘he'd never touch you for your brother's sake.’
      • There were reports of people hitting people but nobody touched anybody.
      • We'd make sure they never touched this generation of students.
    2. 2.2usually with negative Consume or use (food, drink, money, etc.)
      the pint by his right hand was hardly touched

      他右手边上的那品脱饮料几乎没碰过。

      in three years I haven't touched a cent of the money

      三年里，这些钱我一分也没有碰过。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • True, it is hard for a monk not to touch money and to live without the comforts of this world.
      • We hardly touched our wine and it was all I could to keep my eyes open.
      • Pensions are a great way to save for the future because you can't touch the money until you retire.
      • When he leaves each day, you clear the dishes but can't touch the tip.
      • You can't touch your pension pot until you're at least fifty, which gives it time to grow.
      • Since you cannot touch the money until you retire, you no longer have a rainy-day fund, or a down payment for a house.
      • She spent most of her time under the settee, pressed up as tight into the corner as she could, and hardly touched her food.
      • But you can only take a quarter of the accumulated fund as a tax-free lump sum and you can't touch any of the money until you retire - or you're 50 at least.
      • From the very beginning, I knew that you were never even gonna touch this money.
      • That means a 35-year-old woman who quits her job to raise kids can't touch the money for 25 years.
      • After one sip he put down the glass; he has not touched a drink for 18 months.
      • If your employer goes bust, it can not touch your pension fund, but you may not get as much as you had originally thought.
      • ‘We don't want to touch the money, because we aren't the middlemen,’ Leonard said.
      • Your investment mix would be limited, and you wouldn't be able to touch your money or borrow against it until you retire.
      • Are we still not touching money today because it's dirty?
      • You may not touch the funds saved in a retirement annuity before you are 55 years old.
      • I wouldn't know, I didn't touch any food or drink from breakfast onwards.
      • So Quiney can't touch the money at all unless he puts something in.
      • I won't be touching this money for perhaps 25 years, so it's all going into the stock market.
      • The Deep has managed to build up credit worth £2.9m, but because it is a registered charity, does not pay tax, and therefore cannot touch the money.
      Synonyms
      taste, consume, eat, drink, take, partake of
    3. 2.3with negative Used to indicate that something is avoided or rejected.
      接触，碰及（常被回避或抵制的事物）
      he was good only for the jobs that nobody else would touch

      他只适合做别人都不愿做的工作。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • He went to Africa hoping to cover ‘an anticipated blossoming of democracy across the continent’, but in four years never touched the subject.
      • They do not want even to touch social and economic rights.
      • But there were some things we didn't want to touch, like paedophilia.
      • Hollywood was late to catch on, not least because no-one in the Cold War days would have touched a movie about two communists such as Kahlo and Rivera.
      • TV would not touch him for punditry duties, fearful of what he might say, and hence there was no glorious retirement into the public life of a celebrity, of the sort which his playing career so richly deserved.
      • I even came to him with that Faulkner book, which nobody would touch.
      • They are even afraid to touch Shakespeare for its vast scope of interpretations and description, and there is nothing more tiring than a poor teacher with a Shakespeare volume.
      • The result will create fear at the Today programme, where there should be pride. As so many times before, they were there with a story that nobody else would touch.
      • What's more, they'll never touch stock like this again either.
      • I don't touch anything involved with electricity, for example.
      • Mind you losing my job didn't do much for my reputation because no-one would touch me for the next three years.
      • Is there value to certain types of non-nutty Internet speculation that the mainstream media, for the most part, refuse to touch?
      Synonyms
      be associated with, concern oneself with, involve oneself in, involve oneself with, get involved in, get involved with, have something to do with, have dealings with, deal with, handle, be a party to

  • 3Affect or concern.

    a tenth of state companies have been touched by privatization

    十分之一的国有公司已经受到私有化的影响。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • The international jurisprudence to which we have referred does not touch this problem that we are concerned with, does it?
    • Anyone whose life has been touched by cancer will be aware of the vitally important work of Macmillan nurses.
    • Nobody can fail to be touched by the plight of the two murdered girls in Soham and the ordeal of their families, friends and all those touched by this tragedy.
    • The third issue concerns the question of repayment of legal aid, which touches the question of whether legal aid in a particular case will be a grant or be something more in the nature of a loan.
    • Before long, GPS will be touching our lives in so many positive ways that we'll wonder how we ever lived without it.
    • Your listeners should have the feeling at the end of your concert that something inside them has been touched and changed.
    • The senior undergraduate course in American constitutional law touches a host of moral issues buffeting our country today.
    • Drug abuse and crime now touch all levels of society.
    • This was a concert for those touched by dispossession and resistance.
    • When one talks about reforms in the Muslim community, none of the important organisations touch these issues.
    • But the teaching also touched sentient beings as moral agents, as agents capable of affecting the welfare not only of themselves but of others as well.
    • However, stress seems to be at an almost epidemic level, touching all levels of society.
    • Williams' plan is to raise awareness about ecological issues by touching the lives of students along his route, through school talks and media events.
    • It will come to touch all our lives in a profound manner, and will figure prominently in all we think and do at all levels of civic life for a very long time.
    • Healthcare is a matter of concern in most countries and one that touches everybody in some way.
    • Thanks for a great analysis touching many of the important bases.
    • Howe doesn't see the extended Internet really touching consumers in a major way until 2007, due to the expense.
    • Powered by the breath, this massage is a dynamic dance of the spirit that touches many different levels of consciousness.
    • What has been labelled moral evil or human evil or sin touches every sphere of human activity.
    • It's like titillation value was more important than ability to touch or affect other people's lives.
    Synonyms
    affect, have an effect on, concern, involve, have a bearing on, be relevant to, be pertinent to
    1. 3.1 (of a quality or expression) be or become visible or apparent in.
      the voice was touched by hysteria
      a wry smile touched his lips

      他的唇边流露出一丝怪笑。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • He was staring at Cael, a smile touching his lips, as the latter took a step back, away from him.
      • A wry smile touched Ame's lips as she ran her fingers over the faded image, eyes softening.
      • He looked at her strangely, a faint smile touching his lips.
      • She shook her head, a shy smile touching her lips when she looked away from him.
      • She slid her seatbelt on, a smile touching her lips as she started the car, scooting her seat forward since she had shorter legs.
      • He lowered his hand, a small smiled touching his lips.
      • Remembering the Legendary Master's words after David had fallen, Viridian cannot stop the smile from touching her lips.
      • I watched him, quietly, with a gentle smile touching my lips.
      • His face was peaceful, a faint smile touching his lips.
      • Tanya bounded down the stairs, the slightest of smiles touching her lips as she recalled the previous night.
      • She held up her hands, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.
      • He answered honestly, a small ironic smile touching his lips as he realized the double meaning behind his words.
      • Her eyes were closed, and a slight smile was touching her lips.
      • Nick was leaning against the wall with an amused smile touching his lips.
      • She whispered, a faint smile touching her lips, it was coming back.
      • Thomas frowned and shook his head, a minute smile touching his lips.
      • An unidentifiable expression touches Michael's features, then he lets his eyelids fall shut and rotates his head away from us on the pillow.
      • She looked down at his hand, bringing it up to her chest, next to her head, a soft smile touching her lips.
      • ‘You don't have to stay on the floor the whole way,’ he said, a smile touching his lips.
      • His expression touching bewilderment, he nevertheless returned my mother's overpowering embrace with a smile and genuine goodbye.

  • 4Produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in.

    触动，感动

    she was touched by her friend's loyalty

    她被朋友的忠诚感动了。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • One of them, dressed in a violet pyjama and kurta, walked elegantly on the stage and greeted the students, who were touched by his appearance.
    • I just wanted to extend my thanks to you for all of the wonderful books you've written, your words have touched both my mind and heart.
    • We remember well his sermon at the pope's funeral in Rome, how his words touched our hearts and the hearts of millions.
    • Emma's family have been touched by the students' fund-raising.
    • His words touched my heart, as though he were speaking to me personally.
    • She was surprised to have been so touched by his words.
    • She'd been touched by his words, his teachings, and had found herself swept along in the wake of his passage.
    • One thing was the same, however; the words touched them deeply and went straight to their hearts.
    • It was homemade, and the words touched my heart.
    • I think your words have touched my heart completely.
    • Her words touched my heart and the whole world seemed to crush me then.
    • Teach your teachers and leaders to pray before class starts, asking God to guide their words and touch the hearts of their students.
    • Jesus' words touched her heart and set her on the way of transformation.
    • Kim took all of what Levi had said in slowly, the words touching her heart.
    • Dylan is so touched by her kind words, and comes out from behind the bushes, to the shock of everyone sitting there.
    • He wanted to break down in front of her and show her how those simple words had touched his soul.
    • Her words had touched something deep within him, something bizarre and strange that frightened him.
    • His wife, who arranged the whole deal, kept trying to talk to him, but he couldn't take his eyes off Tommy Lee, who looked touched by the affection the dude had for him.
    • One of them, named Song, was deeply touched by the words that described his miserable life counter to his warm heart, bringing tears to her eyes.
    • His words touched Callie, who didn't miss the tremor in his voice.
    Synonyms
    affect, move, stir, arouse, make/leave an impression on, impress, have an impact on, have an effect on
    influence, impassion
    upset, disturb, make sad, arouse sympathy, melt, soften
    informal get (to)
    affected, softened, moved, stirred, swayed, aroused, impressed, influenced, warmed, impassioned, upset, disturbed, distressed

  • 5informal Reach (a specified level or amount)

    〈非正式〉达到（某个水平，数额）

    sales touched twenty grand last year

    去年销售额达到二万英镑。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • With temperatures touching the 40s, it was not an easy task and, by the end of the week, we all smelled of sun cream and sweat.
    • At the same time, India's imports from China touched 1.74 billion US dollars, up 72 per cent.
    • The total storage volume for RHW facilities in Sumida City touched 9,500 cubic metres by that date.
    • Software exports have touched Rs.5,841 crores this year, compared to last year's Rs.4,200 crores.
    • As the temperatures touched the 80s, there was a typical end of pre-season feel about the opening exchanges.
    • But within a year, Yelena touched 4.10 metres at the World Youth Games.
    • The currency briefly touched 8.2700 on that day, a gain of 0.08 percent.
    • The rush on commodities stretched into the gold market, where prices touched 18-year highs.
    • While doubling the female literacy rates, during this decade, the male literacy rates touched the 75.49 per cent mark.
    • Auto component exports from India to our global operations have touched euro 72 million during the year 2003.
    • The foreign currency assets also saw a similar increase of $169 million to touch $1,03,384 million.
    • The city houses a population of seven million, which is slated to touch 8.8 million in 2015.
    • At one point in the day, the rupiah touched 10,135 per dollar before closing at a three-month low of 10,025.
    • With elections round the corner, the irritation is bound to touch nightmarish levels.
    • I know that no one touches a Level Ten in real life, but for me, that line is the only reason I still continue to run or fly.
    • He was confident that the growth rate would touch a high of nine per cent during the last two quarters of the current year itself.
    • The yen, meanwhile, held in check by Japan's central bank, can only manage a 41-month high, touching levels last seen in late 2000.
    • The housing loan, the key component of the advance portfolio, touched the level of Rs 110 crore.
    • The GDP growth rate touched new heights every quarter.
    • From any standard this level is said to be touching the poverty line, but statistics show that despite the government's claims poverty is on the rise.
    Synonyms
    reach, attain, arrive at, come to, make
    get up to, rise to, soar to
    get down to, sink to, plummet to, dive to
    informal hit
    1. 5.1usually with negative Be comparable to in quality or excellence.
      〈非正式〉（在质量，水平方面）可比较
      there's no one who can touch him at lightweight judo

      在轻量级柔道方面，没人能与他相比。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • None of them, however, was able to touch Daru-brahman for as soon as they started, their chisels broke and fell to pieces.
      • Chris [Cormier] can't touch Flex for symmetry and structure, and that's why I expect a lighter and better Wheeler to finish a strong second behind Ronnie.
      • As to Ronnie, that dude is by far the best bodybuilder on Earth; he is in a class by himself, and no one will be able to touch him for years to come.
      • There's no one who can touch Noble for flights of nonsensical fancy.
      • But when it comes to building lovable robots, no-on can touch Sony for cuteness (and no, they're not on sale yet).
      • No one can touch them for the sheer beauty and perfection their sport can provide, certainly not serial champions such as Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
      • Define your agenda in terms of freedom, security, identity and democracy - ‘and no one can touch you for it’.
      • Over the past five years, few teams can touch them for number of tries scored and appetite for attacking play.
      • At 45, Kennedy has spent one year short of half his life in parliament, and no other party leader can touch him for popularity; from integrity to personal appeal, he leads in the polls.
      • The two men in occupancy for England are Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand - and when Brown is in this form neither can touch him for poise, pace and reading of the game.
      Synonyms
      compare with, be on a par with, equal, match, be a match for, be in the same class as, be in the same league as, be on an equal footing with, parallel, rival, come near, get near, approach, come up to, come/get close to, measure up to/against
      better, beat
      informal hold a candle to

  • 6touch someone forinformal Ask someone for (money or some other commodity) as a loan or gift.

    〈非正式〉向（某人）借（或付）（钱），向（某人）讨要（物品）

    he touched me for his fare

    他向我借路费。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • So in a fit of sentimentality and with the keen realization that the guy still has a couple hundred grand that you haven't touched him for yet, you name your first born after it.
    • You can touch Evan for the occasional meal or drinks but a million bucks is crossing the line.
    • Our old school, like many fee-paying establishments, has devised a way of reconnecting with its old pupils as they approach the stage in life when there would be some point in touching them for a donation to one of its projects.
    • The least expensive model will touch you for a couple of hundred bucks.
    • Sasha, a charity worker, is more interested in cosying up to big fish than touching them for their money.
    • Seeing as how you're being so generous and all, maybe I could touch you for a few bob - er, I mean bucks.
    Synonyms
    ask, approach
    beg, borrow from

  • 7touch something inArt
    Lightly mark in features or other details with a brush or pencil.

    〔主艺术〕（用画笔、铅笔）轻轻勾勒

noun tʌtʃtətʃ

  • 1An act of touching someone or something.

    her touch on his shoulder was hesitant

    她触碰他肩膀时有些犹豫。

    mass noun expressions of love through words and touch

    通过言语和触摸的爱意表达方式。

    in singular manipulate images on the screen at the touch of a key

    你可轻轻按键来控制屏幕图像。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • At one stage, the cellular service providers presented a wide range of information services at the touch of key and enhanced memory and so on.
    • The whole way my eyes were burning at the memory of how he had flinched at the touch of a gentle hand.
    • Blair opened his eyes at the touch of a hand on his forehead.
    • A strange feeling thrilled the lusty youth at the touch of her warm hand, and almost involuntarily his eyes sought to meet those of the young maiden.
    • He ran his fingers across it wondering what it was supposed to mean, but at the touch of his hand words suddenly appeared.
    • She shrugged away at the touch of my hand, and continued her tale.
    • Blonde turned to black, touches turned to kisses, and my tears gradually ceased.
    • It's frankly unbelievable that at the touch of a button, I can choose between live or near-live performances from a host of acts at the world's greatest music festival.
    • He jumped at the touch of the cold water and I apologized for it being so cold.
    • It was about three feet wide, six feet tall, and the doors were all sliding glass which slid open at the touch of a button.
    • Stine was about to say something back, but at the touch of my hand, his eyes slowly closed.
    • At the touch of a button on a special panel, visitors can activate the speaking exhibit and decide how rude they want the award-winning TV presenter to be.
    • At the touch of his hand, she turned to look at him and screamed.
    • Those travelling by train from Sligo railway station can now get their tickets at the touch of a screen.
    • Alex jumps at the touch of Robert's hand on his shoulder.
    • At the touch of his hand, there was a slight wince of pain.
    • He jumped at the touch of my hand to his bare skin.
    • And the potential was certainly there via an amazing high-tech tuxedo that transforms its wearer into a super-hero at the touch of a button.
    • Now thanks to a children's charity he can leap up and applaud because the new wheelchair rises at the touch of a button.
    • At the touch of his hand, all the tension dissipated from Robin's body.
    Synonyms
    press, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke, push, glance, flick
    stroke, brush, graze
    pressure
    1. 1.1mass noun The faculty of perception through physical contact, especially with the fingers.
      （尤指手指的）触觉，触感
      reading by touch

      触读。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Reassurance also came in the form of touch and physical closeness during the biopsy.
      • They have poor vision but a very good sense of smell and touch.
      • You see, I don't have much of a physical sense of touch, but I can feel things.
      • Her hearing and sense of touch were perfect if not a bit muddled but for the life of her she could not move one muscle.
      • The wall will include different pieces of artwork to stimulate various senses including touch, smell, sight and sound.
      • We're looking for the reduction in unnecessary infection, most of which are transmitted by contact or touch.
      • Sensation arises from contact or touch, illustrated by a man and woman embracing.
      • Even if one is blessed with the senses of touch, smell, speech and hearing, it is sight that gives shape to imagination.
      • Choosing whole fish is a sensory experience that involves touch, sight and smell.
      • Instead, many urged a renewed alliance of the faculties, with touch as their tutor, guide, and ultimate arbiter.
      • But for those of us who practise and experience physical touch as a part of our lives, it is truly a powerful way of appreciating and accepting others.
      • Finally, users report enhanced pleasure from physical sensations, especially the sense of touch.
      • The feel of the fabric and the wood on the skin combines the sense of touch and sight so that sexuality is intertwined with violence to the body.
      • They were doing this with their hands in the dark with just a flashlight, and just using their senses of touch, smell and sight.
      • A client may provide clues about her cultural perceptions of space and touch.
      • Physical touch, affection, and the messiness of caring for an uncoordinated person did not come easily.
      • This being the case, I sometimes can't quite ‘get’ my partner's aversion to physical touch.
      • There must have been grooves cut into the metal - perceptible only by touch.
      • Born blind, she is possessed of an incredible beauty and an amazingly heightened sense of hearing and touch.
      • Our brain gets stimulatory inputs through the special sensory stimuli of touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste.
      Synonyms
      feeling, feel, sense of touch, contact, tactile sense, tactility
      texture
    2. 1.2mass noun A musician's manner of playing keys or strings.
      （音乐家的）触键法，弹奏法
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Here Engel's steely touch yet emotional warmth were ideally channelled.
      • With his lighter touch and easier manner, Tubridy has turned it into a fluent, pleasant interlude.
      • The Raindrop Prelude had the requisite lightness of touch.
      • Information is included on staccato touches and the two-note slur touch.
      • What makes Jansons unique in his métier is the intricacy of his musical touch.
      • The performances are lusty and emotional, and shouts or shrill whistling add the requisite folksy touch.
      • Her Chopinesque touch brought elegance to the movement's lovely second subject.
      • Brendel hasn't the kind of touch I am aiming for, but has such wonderful musicality.
      • The glories of his phrasing and touch in the slow movements are where he shines through.
      • Skoogh plays them beautifully, approaching the first three intermezzi with a relative lightness of touch and keeping them moving.
      • The admirable Japanese pianist, Haruko Seki, here applies her refreshing lightness of touch to some of the solo piano pieces.
      • These guys refresh classical music with their subtle touch, their accessible grooves, and a tiny klezmer edge.
      • Piau here has a lightness of touch which sits perfectly with the Mozart.
      • Otherwise, the dying hot air balloon and giant bird sequences benefit most from Herrmann's deft musical touch.
      • On stringed instruments, articulation relies on the type of bowing, and in wind playing largely on tonguing, while in keyboard playing it depends on touch.
      • His tone is jeweled and his touch always poetic; he makes little effort to vary it in the name of stylistic authenticity.
      • Bolet's touch, velvety yet penetrating, is a miracle, and he caresses each phrase as if it is taken from an operatic aria.
      • He sweeps through the Debussy pieces with a nonchalance that is almost disarming but his keyboard touch is indeed lithe and very beautiful.
      • Retention of a naturally compact hand through early release of selected notes and judicious use of staccato touch is a potent technique.
      • Legato is not necessarily a physical connection but an aural effect, a sweetness of sound, determined by the character of touch.
    3. 1.3mass noun The manner in which a musical instrument's keys or strings respond to being played.
      （乐器键、弦的）弹性，弹力
      Viennese instruments with their too delicate touch

      弹性过于灵敏的维也纳乐器。

    4. 1.4 A light stroke with a pen, pencil, etc.
      （钢笔、铅笔等的）轻触
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Incremental in approach, painstaking in process, the drawings coax a range of associations from the touch of the pencil.
      • He portrays his wife with the lightest of touches, using red chalk, heightened with white in soft, feathery strokes which evince the profound French influence on his art.
      • A touch of paint is given to the objects to provide special characteristics.
      • Burningham really knows how to convey fatigue with the lightest of touches (the strokes of pen that make the eyes do much of the work).
      • Finally, the tiny details were added by the deft pencil, filling in the gaps with intricate strokes in the very lightest of touches…
      Synonyms
      press, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke, push, glance, flick

  • 2A small amount; a trace.

    少许；一点

    add a touch of vinegar

    加点醋。

    he retired to bed with a touch of flu

    他染上轻度流感，上床休息了。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • A touch of playfulness here and there dominates the divine characters.
    • A touch of breeze stirred a late hatch of flies; occasionally there was the soft plop of a sated brown trout.
    • A touch of irresponsibility isn't necessarily a bad thing.
    • A touch of ethnic jewellery completes a uniform that is cool, spaced-out and completely conventional.
    • A touch of mace or nutmeg is the only other thing needed.
    • A touch of Mardi Gras with a carnival type atmosphere was the end result and children of all ages had a memorable experience on this special occasion in Tubbercurry.
    • A touch of cinnamon or nutmeg mixed with plain low fat yogurt and brown sugar makes a refreshing dressing for a fresh fruit salad.
    • A touch of arrogant confidence is part of the mix for competitive success.
    • A touch of the seaside was even brought to the show with a debut appearance from the Southport donkeys.
    • A touch of mascara, a pinch of blush, a dab of lip gloss, and I was set to go.
    • A touch of uncertainty and anxiety clearly permeated the chilly autumnal air.
    • A touch of self-obsession can be slightly forgiven in this case then.
    • A touch of Superstar Complacency had set in, I thought - which is a bit rich when you haven't even released your first single yet.
    • A touch of first night nerves hit the more experienced actors hardest, as one might expect but no doubt they disappeared as the week progressed.
    • A touch of sweetness is a good thing in her book too.
    • A touch of embarrassment swept over Rebecca as she remembered their last encounter and she could not bring herself to meet his eyes.
    • I then added a quick touch of mascara and light pink lip stick.
    • A touch of humility before embarking on these lectures would also not come amiss.
    • A touch of cold in the air has brought the winter anglers out.
    • A touch of color to the cheeks, a little lipstick, maybe some eye shadow and mascara-makeup seems harmless enough.
    Synonyms
    small amount, trace, bit, suggestion, suspicion, hint, scintilla, tinge, tincture, whiff, whisper, overtone, undertone, nuance, murmur, colouring, breath, vein
    dash, taste, spot, drop, dab, pinch, speck, smack, smattering, sprinkling, splash, soupçon
    1. 2.1 A small distinctive detail or feature.
      the film's most inventive touch

      这部电影中最具创造性的特色。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • There are also a few nice unexpected touches, such as a list of the benefits of making a donation to charity or some other philanthropic gesture.
      • As art school and 70s as it sounds, it has some clever and inventive touches - Blyth had a strong visual sense early on.
      • Also offered is lunchtime delivery service, which, if you happen to work in the area, is a nice touch - call for details.
      • I think hiring a drag queen would also be a nice touch.
      • I recommend the extended version VHS for other nice touches like that.
      • The layout is cool and spacious, contemporary without overdoing it, with some well-thought out details and imaginative touches.
      • The case is solid and well finished, with a number of nice additional touches.
      • The rather abstract and distant creator of the Bible text is humanized by the preacher's narrative details and poetic touches.
      • The live music is definitely a nice touch though.
      • The story is simple, but it's the details and weird touches Lynch lays in that makes it complex and darkly disturbing.
      • Many houses had their window and door features highlighted with contrasting colours which is a nice touch.
      • Little elements of character development also add a nice touch.
      • While a little light in content, this was an interesting feature and a nice touch.
      • In homage to the location, the 37 bedrooms feature many seaside touches.
      • The boards would be a nice touch, but they'd ruin the aerodynamics, so perhaps better additions are a chalk-striped suit, fedora, and spats to your wardrobe.
      • This is a nice touch, as it allows the viewer deeper access into the reporters' experiences.
      • A nice touch is the addition of plasma tv screens to watch sporting events while you play.
      • It is a nice touch, but doesn't really fit with the feature presentation.
      • The use of props and scenery is very inventive, there are nice little touches and stunning visual effects.
      • I really like the feature, and think it is a nice touch, as well as a time saver.
      Synonyms
      detail, feature, fine point, nicety, addition, accessory
      (touches), minutiae

  • 3in singular A distinctive manner or method of dealing with something.

    手法，风格

    later he showed a surer political touch

    后来他的政治手腕更为成熟。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Craig David has been to Rishi's studio giving his single Spanish a bhangra touch, even managing to sing a verse in Punjabi that had been specially written for him.
    • Success, even wild success, can be a fluke, but a lifetime of wild success requires a divine touch.
    • He has more of a sure touch when dealing with pure retail.
    • Sometimes it can seem like the Lakers have the magic touch in selecting players, but don't read too much into this.
    • We made American jazz standards but with a Cuban touch and influenced by bossa nova too.
    • The comic elements included in the play needed to be handled with a deft touch rather than a heavy hand too.
    • The woman's voice had been selected after tests with pilots showed that the feminine touch proved the most effective.
    • Before ET, Spielberg was just a bankable director with a populist touch.
    • Again, he scored with the local touch he managed to bring, proving that a lot of homework had gone into its making.
    • And there's a nice political touch with dear Cherie handling the case.
    • She applied an artistic touch and created a lifelike clay face meant to depict Tut on the day of his death.
    • These two midfielders directed the game with an expert touch.
    • Hull University has launched a unique mentoring project into cyberspace in a bid to bring the feminine touch to senior management jobs across Britain.
    • Serving tea to the Dixon family in Mr Howard's sitting room showed a political touch which the Tories have lacked for the best part of a decade.
    • In contrast to his previous ability to be all things to all people, in his second period of office from 1950 he lost his political touch and managed to offend even his loyal supporters.
    Synonyms
    skill, skilfulness, expertise, dexterity, deftness, virtuosity, adroitness, adeptness, ability, talent, flair, facility, proficiency
    knack, technique, approach, style, manner, execution, method
    feel, craftsmanship, workmanship, artistry, performance
    influence, effect, hand, handling
    direction, management, technique, method
    1. 3.1 An ability to deal with something successfully.
      特长，才能
      getting caught looks so incompetent, as though we're losing our touch

      被人抓到令我们看上去很无能，好像我们在失去我们的才能。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • I am usually very good about their tricks and jokes, but it seems I am losing my touch the more I stay away from people.
      • She had to wonder if maybe Mrs. Hamstrom was losing her touch, after all she wasn't young anymore, maybe she was becoming senile.
      • I must be losing my touch, I considered as the room's unnerving silence got the best of me.
      • Her Irish temper was rising, and Logan was glad he hadn't lost the touch.
      • Ugh I think I'm losing my touch or something… that chapter was pretty awful eh?
      • The Prime Minister, we are told, is losing his touch.
      • Late in the 2002 season, as Miami was in the midst of one of its annual collapses, both of these cornerbacks seemed to be losing their touch.
      • It failed and I had such a hard time figuring out what was wrong, I went through a stage of wondering whether I was losing my touch.
      • Either he was the only security I could see, or I was really losing my touch.
      • Not having enough things that have annoyed me - perhaps I'm losing my touch?
      • But there are signs that he could be losing his touch for self-promotion.
      • However, I'm going to shout that honestly, Rick, you are losing your touch.
      • We have read through your report, and it's fairly obvious to us that you're losing your touch.
      • If you've read this far and are asking that question, then I must be losing my touch, whatever little of it I had in the first place.
      • Is it just me, or are some bands losing their touch?
      • He really is losing his touch… it only took three hours to convince him to let me paint.
      • That meant one of two things: either she was losing her touch, or they'd upgraded their little bat-mobile.
      • Rumours are starting to spread that he's losing his touch.
      • He was a Pro Bowler in 2000 before really losing his touch, and that's when the fans and the media in Denver started coming down on him.
      • Maybe you're not losing your touch; maybe you're simply losing interest.
      Synonyms
      talent, flair, aptitude, facility, knack, technique, bent, ability, expertise, capacity, capability, power, faculty

  • 4Rugby Soccer
    in singular The area beyond the sidelines, out of play.

    〔英橄，英足〕边线以外地区

    his clearance went directly into touch

    他一脚解围把球直接踢出场外。

    figurative the idea was kicked firmly into touch by the authorities

    〈喻〉这个想法被当局毫不留情地踢到一边。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • The English mistakes came thick and fast as Jonny Wilkinson knocked on and Luger sliced a horrible kick into touch to the delight of the Welsh supporters.
    • Once at University Andrew kicked rugby into touch because he was fed up of waking up with a thick head, took up rowing - and the rest is history.
    • If their hearts are not at the club then they should be kicked straight into touch.
    • The keeper comes out, arms flailing, but the corner is too long and drifts into touch.
    • But his pass is overhit and goes straight into touch.

  • 5dated, informal in singular An act of asking for and getting a loan or gift from someone.

    〈非正式，旧〉借钱，讨钱，讨要物品

    I only tolerated him because he was good for a touch now and then

    我之所以能容忍他仅仅是因为我可以时不时地向他讨要东西。

  • 6Bell-ringing
    A series of changes shorter than a peal.

    〔鸣钟术〕（敲奏编钟中）转调较少的钟乐

  • 7archaic in singular A thing that tests the worth or character of something.

    〈古〉试金石；考验；测试

    you must put your fate to the touch

    你必须经受命运的考验。

Phrases

  • a touch

    • To a slight degree; a little.

      略微；稍许

      the water was a touch chilly for us

      对于我们来说，水有点冰。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • It may well be the old congenital paranoia, but I detect more than a touch of wishful thinking here.
      • This was a touch worrying as we were there for pretty much the same reason.
      • If this can be achieved then the crowd tend to get a touch restless and this can filter through to the players on the pitch.
      • With my need for coffee still a touch greater than my fear of humiliation, I popped the question.
      • It was a clean-cut, agreeable dish albeit a touch bland for more adventurous palates.
      • In order to add a touch of calm to proceedings in Corsham she also read stories to the assembled youngsters.
      • An exotic Chinese golden pheasant has brought a touch of the mystic east to inner city Manchester.
      • There is a sick feeling developing in my stomach, accompanied by a slight fear and a touch of anger.
      • After a while it becomes a little too solid, but a touch more water fixes that.
      • Now I have a pint of hot water with a touch of lemon, then two pieces of fruit like a banana and apple.

  • in touch

    • 1In or into communication.

      联系，接触

      ask someone to put you in touch with other carers

      请别人帮你联系其他护理人员。

      I'm not much of a one for keeping in touch
      Example sentencesExamples
      • We really hope that people from Asian communities with an interest in charities will get in touch and join this scheme.
      • I'd like to help you get in touch with the person you seek but it's just getting to be too big a drain on me.
      • Keeping in touch with people back home was easy as there was an internet café in almost every village.
      • Moylan spent a week in Thailand, and after returning to England kept in touch with Wan by phone and mail.
      • All community groups have to do is get in touch and tell us how they believe broadband would help them.
      • Police were trying to get in touch with relatives of the dead and injured.
      • Twenty-seven years of shared experiences later, they still kept in touch.
      • If you would like to become involved then please do get in touch with the staff at the centre and they will be able to steer you in the right direction.
      • When Jade first went missing, she kept in touch with her mother but has now stopped contacting her and has not returned home.
      • This might be good news for the communications industry and good news for anyone trying to get in touch with us.
      Synonyms
      contact, communication, correspondence, connection, association

    • 2Possessing up-to-date knowledge.

      掌握最新知识

      we need to keep in touch with the latest developments

      我们应该紧跟最新发展。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • In Washington, President Bill Clinton cancelled his schedule to keep in touch with developments.
      • She was an avid reader and kept in touch with her home county through the weekly Connaught Telegraph.
      • Make sure to get this web address to those who are living away so that they may be able to stay in touch with what we are all up to in this neck of the woods.
      • I would like to thank your newspaper for keeping me in touch with home developments.
      Synonyms
      up to date, up with, in touch, familiar, at home, acquainted, conversant
      1. 2.1Having an intuitive awareness.
        感受
        you need to be in touch with your feelings

        你应该去感受你的感情。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • We can consciously cultivate practices that bring us in touch with other kinds of temporality.
        • There's no confusing failure with getting in touch with one's feminine nature in his work.
        • The sessions are aimed at getting individuals in touch with the inner self.
        • The movie elicits in people a connection or a hunger to be in touch with the transcendent.
        • I think everybody has a certain amount of that, and either you're in touch with it or you're not.
        • I want him to be in touch with his Australian heritage and learn to tackle and play the game that they play in heaven.
        • This was the work of a vital performer in touch with the soul of the Cosmic American Music.
        • He wrote her a rap song before he departed and he sings for me now, just to keep in touch with his feelings for this woman so far away.
        • People here are outdoorsy, and still very in touch in with the land.

  • lose touch

    • 1Cease to be in communication.

      联系，接触

      I lost touch with him when he joined the Air Force

      自他加入空军后，我便与他失去了联系。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • I do not know what he was involved in, because I had lost touch with him, but I learnt he was gunned down in an encounter in Baroda early into his career in crime.
      • A very jovial and likeable man Tom never lost touch with home and came back on regular visits when he enjoyed meeting up with his old neighbours and friends.
      • I went down to 5 ½ stone weight and I lost touch with friends and family.
      • I'd lost touch with him, and was meaning to look him up.
      • With so many people evacuated in so many directions, families have become separated and people have lost touch with their loved ones.
      • Soon the cattle were sold and, over time, the farmer's wife lost touch with the farming community around her.
      • Most of the people who are going through this now had already lost touch with the only community they'd ever known.
      • Since becoming single again, I've been making an effort to get back in touch with old friends I'd stupidly lost touch with.
      • I've somehow lost touch with the rest of my family over the years.
      • It was after - I lost touch with Erik for a few months, probably six months.
      Synonyms
      contact, communication, correspondence, connection, association

    • 2Cease to be aware or informed.

      不再意识到，失去消息

      we cannot lose touch with political reality

      我们不能脱离政治现实。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • It has become so narrow in its inner-city focus it has lost touch with its working-class roots in the bush as well as outer-metropolitan areas.
      • They are very keen that their children should not lose touch with their culture.
      • Vanessa discusses several months after Layla's death how western society has lost touch with rituals that express mourning.
      • A furious Selby burglary victim said today that Britain's law lords had lost touch with reality after calling for more lenient sentences for offenders.
      • Yet, Nani never felt that she was anything other than Indonesian, as her parents constantly reminded her that although they lived in a foreign country that did not mean that they had an excuse to lose touch with their origins.
      • We've lost touch with the first principle of any democratic community: Live and let live.
      • It is the fate of modernism that we repeatedly lose touch with nature, the environment, the planet.
      • The speech sure sounded like a clunker to me, but Hugh was there, and it may be that I've simply lost touch with the Democratic mindset.
      • Her hard work has paid off but she has traveled so far from her essence in the process that she feels she has lost touch with herself and lost touch with life.
      • According to this other picture, we in the West have lost touch with our humanity and with the community-mindedness of our ancestors.

  • out of touch

    • 1Lacking up-to-date knowledge or information.

      he seems out of touch with recent economic thinking

      令人惊讶的是，他似乎不了解近来的经济思想。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • If that's true, then the UBP and the community are out of touch with the way the capital punishment debate is going.
      • Let's be clear: Davis is man completely out of touch with modern society.
      • There was also a discussion after the dinner about whether the media elite is out of touch with America.
      • Dame Stella is somewhat out of touch with modern archive services, which can be innovative and challenging.
      • Rarely has the church appeared so out of touch with present-day Scotland than it did during the cardinal's sermon.
      • I am completely out of touch with what's going on in the world.
      • It shows he's out of touch what's been going on in America over the last three years.
      • Some people are impermeable to information or wholly out of touch with the topical subjects of the day.
      1. 1.1Lacking in awareness or sympathy.
        无视
        we have been betrayed by a government out of touch with our values

        我们被无视我们价值观的政府出卖了。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • Westminster has been besieged over the past week by public sector workers protesting that the government was out of touch with them.
        • People who deride the poor for laziness are out of touch with the difficulty of finding decent jobs.
        • Bangladesh played well today and Australia seemed a bit out of touch.
        • But researchers say parents appeared out of touch with their concerns.
        • This president is completely out of touch with reality, and it showed again in his speech today.
        • They were historic movies out of touch with history, out of touch with morality.
        • So I think his statement says more about his being out of touch with his own state than it has anything to do with me.
        • The pitch, when you strip it down, is that the party is hopelessly out of touch, and needs someone to lead them back to where the rest of the country is.
        • That they were surprised by the voters, and have no Plan B, tells us just how out of touch with the grass roots the elite is.
        • It's easy to see why the message touches so many people, as so many people feel out of touch with nature; that is to say, alienated.

  • to the touch

    • When touched.

      the ankle was swollen and painful to the touch

      脚踝肿了，一摸就疼。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Her whole body seemed to be throbbing and every millimeter of her skin was painful to the touch.
      • My entire face is the colour of a fire engine and sore to the touch.
      • The tube gets only slightly warm to the touch, and does not present a burn danger.
      • For some strange reason, everything around seems to be slightly warm to the touch but that may be me.
      • Inflammation occurs and the lip is tender to the touch and so are, sometimes, the gums.
      • They too were covered with small grey bruises, none of them bigger than the nail of my pinky finger and all of them painful to the touch.
      • Why are parts of my body cold to the touch when I don't actually feel cold in those places?
      • He's curled up in bed, burning hot to the touch, yet complaining of being cold.
      • It felt sticky to the touch, so we dissuaded my son from sitting in it.
      • The paper is soft, rough, and unpleasant to the touch, and the typeface and printing quality are a strain to the eye.

  • touch bottom

    • 1Reach the ground below a stretch of water with one's feet or a pole.

      双脚（或杆）触及水底

      Example sentencesExamples
      • He sank below the surface, and his feet touched bottom!
      • Allie sighed in exhausted relief when her wobbly feet touched bottom once more.
      • He finally struggled close enough to shore so his feet could touch bottom, then he just stood there with the water lapping at his neck.
      • Her feet touched bottom and she stood up slowly, revelling in the water flowing from her as she rose from the pool.
      • I was at the absolute end of my strength and ready to give it all up and let myself sink when my foot touched bottom.
      • My feet touch bottom… It's cold in the water, but I'm warm.
      • Divers from the U.S. Geological Survey once descended 300 feet into the waters of Devils Hole but they never touched bottom.
      • Suddenly your feet don't touch bottom any more and you notice you are farther from the beach.
      • As we conclude our series on ‘Swimming In The Deep End,’ we are reminded that when we get into ‘deep water,’ and we can't touch bottom, it seems like we are about to drown, it seems like we might not make it back to safety this time.
      • Then I let myself down into the water which, on touching bottom, proved to be several feet over my head in depth.
      1. 1.1Be at the lowest or worst point.
        达最低，最差点
        the housing market has touched bottom

        房地产市场已跌到最低点。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • Still, no one knows whether the economy has touched bottom or is simply pausing before heading south again.
        • But I have no idea where, or when, the market will touch bottom, and I don't really care.
        • The economy has touched bottom, but the recovery is still sluggish.
        • There are, however, hints that the chain has touched bottom.

  • touch of nature

    • A display of human feeling with which others sympathize (based on a misinterpretation of Shakespeare's Troilus and CressidaIII iii. 169).

      感情的流露，人情味

      Example sentencesExamples
      • He might have such a gift in mind when he says that ‘[m]anners are for me the touch of nature, an artifice in the very bloodstream’.
      • ‘One touch of nature makes the whole world kin’, and the same human nature exists under the crown of the King and the crownless hat of the beggar.

  • touch of the sun

    • A slight attack of sunstroke.

      轻度中暑

      they both had a touch of the sun

Phrasal Verbs

  • touch at

    • (of a ship) call briefly at (a port)

      （船，乘客）短暂停靠（港口）

      before returning to Denmark, he touched at Sandwich
      Example sentencesExamples
      • His great fleet touched at the Orkneys, moved south to the Tyne to join with Tostig, and then entered the Humber, menacing York.
      • No fleet can possibly sail to or return from India without touching at some proper place for refreshment, and, in time of war, it must be equally necessary for protection.

  • touch down

    • 1Rugby
      Touch the ground with the ball behind the opponents' goal line, scoring a try.

      〔英橄〕触地得分

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Francis Meli was twice denied tries by forward passes and scrum-half Lance Hohaia would have touched down, but he grounded the ball short of the line after a fine run and dive.
      • A try is scored in the usual way by touching down the rugby ball.
      • But this sparked the Welsh into life and they scored a wonderful try of their own when scrum-half Gareth Cooper touched down after a flowing passage of play.
      • The pair swapped roles for the second try when Cain, playing at scrum-half, provided the pass for loose forward Ball to touch down under the sticks.
      • He clearly had both feet off the ground as he touched down and I think we got what we deserved.
      1. 1.1Score six points by being in possession of the ball behind the opponents' goal line.
        〔美橄〕（带球攻到对方球门线后）触地得6分
        Example sentencesExamples
        • If he crossed the goal line near the sideline, a runner might try to fight his way toward the middle before touching down so as to get a better angle.

    • 2(of an aircraft or spacecraft) land.

      （飞机，宇宙飞船）降落，着陆

      his plane touched down at Nice airport
      Example sentencesExamples
      • At first no one thought the spacecraft had even touched down and that's what was reported globally.
      • Investigators will want to know if the aircraft touched down in the proper place, if other planes had difficulty braking and if pilots were warned of waterlogging.
      • The areas where the aircraft touched down began to crack and crumble.
      • Both engines quit due to fuel starvation when the aircraft touched down.
      • Air Force One delivers the American President, and whenever this enormous aircraft touches down or takes off a powerful statement is made.
      • The aircraft may have also touched down at a sideways angle.
      • When his aircraft touched down at Shannon Airport he failed to appear from his vodka-induced slumbers to greet his Irish hosts.
      • This is followed by the bump and lurch as the aircraft touches down and the engines roar into full reverse.
      • We were still turning as we approached, dangerously close to the ground, and touched down heavily.
      • Tailwheel aircraft might actually touch down tailwheel-first.
      Synonyms
      land, alight, come in to land, come down, come to earth, come to rest, put down, make a landing, arrive

  • touch something off

    • 1Cause something to ignite or explode by touching it with a lighted match.

      用火柴点燃（或引爆）

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Often though, what we find is ugly surplus ammo that's just scary-enough to make you tense-a-bit when you touch it off.
      • When they were touched off, you truly felt like there was a thunderstick in your hand!
      • Throw in the need to launch him across the room via strategically placed crossbows so that the dynamite can be touched off and you have a typical puzzle found in VV.
      • When you touch it off though, it gets your attention.
      Synonyms
      detonate, set off, trigger, explode, spark (off)
      1. 1.1Cause something to happen suddenly.
        （尤指突然）引发，触发
        there was concern that the move could touch off a trade war

        人们担心此举可能引发贸易战。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • As in Georgia and Ukraine, a rebellion was touched off in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan last week by popular outrage over an unfair election.
        • The killer waves were touched off by a 9.0 earthquake, six miles under the Indian Ocean.
        • But apparently what really touched it off was his discussion of the creation of a Palestinian state as part of administration policy.
        • There is an incident of some kind that touches it off.
        • One of the many earthquakes that rocked the campaign was touched off when Goldwater offhandedly said that Minuteman missiles, one of the mainstays of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, were undependable.
        Synonyms
        initiate, set off, start, begin, set in motion, instigate, ignite, trigger (off), stir up, provoke, foment, cause, give rise to, lead to, generate, actuate, launch

    • 2(of a racehorse) defeat another horse in a race by a short margin.

      （赛马）险胜

      Royal Ballerina was touched off by Intrepidity in the English Oaks

      在英国欧克斯马赛中无畏马险胜皇家芭蕾舞女马。

  • touch on (or upon)

    • 1Deal briefly with (a subject) in written or spoken discussion.

      简略写到（或说到）

      he touches upon several themes from the last chapter

      他简单地谈到了最后一章里的几个主题。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • We talked for forty-five minutes, briefly touching on the subject of last Saturday night, but mostly dancing around it.
      • He packs in a great deal of information and touches on many subjects.
      • Actually I'm interested in opening up this discussion and touching on the subject of the amount of time you spend playing games against the contrast of your increased age and the change in the games themselves.
      • This is a beautifully written book, touching on a subject that touches us all one day.
      • We talked for an hour and a half, only briefly touching on the subject of finalizing the tentative plans we'd made (picked a day and that was about it), and then he had to be off.
      Synonyms
      refer to, mention, give a mention to, comment on, remark on, bring up, speak of, talk about, write about, deal with, raise, broach, cover, allude to, make an allusion to, hint at, skim over

    • 2Come near to being.

      近于，濒于

      a self-confident manner touching on the arrogant

      近于自大的自信。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • This symmetrical infidelity makes for an interesting game of dominoes, in which the players' conversation skirts around questions of sex, marriage, and the rights of a wronged husband, without ever touching on the truth.
      Synonyms
      come close to, verge on, border on, incline to, approach, resemble, be tantamount to, be more or less, be not far from/off

  • touch someone up

    • Caress someone without their consent, for one's own sexual pleasure.

      〈英，非正式〉猥亵某人

      he was sacked after one of his pupils accused him of touching her up
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He asks a second young woman, ‘Will you let me touch you up, or should I use a stripper?’
      • Many women working in the City also say they are touched up by both colleagues, contacts or competitors at such events, and think objecting could be bad for business.
      • They run into many stereotypical tourists - the British are a bunch of football hooligans, led by Vinnie Jones, the Italians are represented by an outrageously gay man, who touches Scotty up in train tunnels, etc.
      • ‘I'm suggesting that happened more than once, a security guy came up to you and said that females were complaining that you had been touching them up,’ said Mr Newbury.
      • S also said that R was ‘really weird’ and frequently woke up shouting that ‘lads were touching her up’ at nights when there was nobody else in the room.
      • No, she was not there at that time. She was only there that time when them two were touching me up.
      • Amidst booming drum 'n' bass, models stilettoed through the sawdust and sauntered around the audience whilst being accosted by wide boys shouting abuse and touching them up.
      Synonyms
      fondle, molest, feel up
      informal grope, paw, maul, goose
      North American informal cop a feel

  • touch something up

    • Make small improvements to something.

      稍作修改，修饰

      these paints are handy for touching up small areas on walls or ceilings

      这些油漆可以很方便地对小范围的墙面和天花板进行修饰。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • The streets have been touched up and the bars may be buzzing, but the English market, which dates from 1788, is still as Victorian as it comes.
      • I may touch it up at some point, but probably won't.
      • A full refinish is an expensive way to take care of minor stuff - and that usually reduces value too - but sometimes we can touch things up a bit and either eliminate or reduce the impact of a scratch.
      • The workmen are busy touching things up and adjusting the projections.
      • It seems now that the Townlands mural has been reprieved and it is hoped when the renovation work is complete in the Loch Inn building the mural will be touched up and refreshed.
      • Anyway, you look great, so stop whining and keep your face still so I can touch it up.
      • If you start work early, you probably haven't got much time to apply it in the first place, and you certainly haven't got much time to touch it up during the day.
      • She prepared the actor's face, the others touched it up and perfected it.
      • All over Athens, in the lead-up to this morning's opening ceremony, buildings have been touched up and instant lawn rolled out to spruce up the ancient city for the Olympics.
      Synonyms
      repaint, patch up, retouch, renovate, refurbish, spruce up, restore, revive, renew, revamp, brush up, rehabilitate, overhaul, recondition, refresh, rejuvenate
      enhance, beautify
      informal do something up, give something a facelift, titivate
      improve, enhance, gloss, dress up, embellish, embroider
      finish off, round off, perfect
      update, upgrade
      bring up to date, modernize, revamp, revise, redo, polish up, rewrite, edit

Derivatives

  • touchable

    • adjective ˈtʌtʃəb(ə)lˈtətʃəb(ə)l
    • The corporeal, physical body is the tangible, seeable, touchable body, manifesting the desire of the spirit energy, to see itself manifest into a form that proves and provides its worth to all.
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The ‘Other’ was not at a distance but highly visible and touchable as a workmate, a neighbour or a friend with whom close contact was maintained both within and outside the mill.
      • Canadians spend so much time agonizing over our lack of solid, touchable, definable identity that it has practically become a national pastime.
      • He was real, huggable, touchable, I saw him smile, heard his laugh.
      • It supplements the visual experience with auditory commentary, tactile maps, and touchable models to provide information about a room or an exhibit.

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.

  • A word from Old French tochier ‘to touch’. In modern French this is toucher, which is the source of touché, literally ‘touched!’, said in fencing to acknowledge a hit made by your opponent, and more generally in recognition of a good or clever point in a discussion. In the mid 19th century touch developed a number of slang meanings among criminals. It described various ways of getting money from people, either by stealing, especially pickpocketing, or by some con trick. A soft touch was someone who was particularly easy to con or steal from, and even today the phrase is often used to describe someone who is always willing to lend money to a friend. Someone touched is slightly mad or crazy. The sense has been used since about 1700, and was probably suggested by a line of Shakespeare's, from Measure for Measure: ‘I am touch'd with madness.’

    From the 16th century a touchstone was a piece of jasper or other stone used for testing alloys of gold by observing the colour of the mark which they made on it. Nowadays a touchstone is usually a standard or criterion by which people judge or recognize something. Touchy, ‘easily upset or offended’, may not be directly from touch, though it has been influenced by the word. It was probably originally an alteration of tetchy (see test).

Rhymes

clutch, crutch, Dutch, hutch, inasmuch, insomuch, much, mutch, scutch, such, thrutch
verb.1
phr.
phr.v.

Definition of touch in US English:

touch

verbtəCHtətʃ
[with object]

  • 1Come so close to (an object) as to be or come into contact with it.

    触，接触，触及

    the dog had one paw outstretched, not quite touching the ground

    这条狗的一个爪子伸展开来，没有完全触及地面。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Samantha had remained erect, very still, and dry-eyed, her back not touching the witness chair.
    • The long sleeves widened and ended in points that did not quite touch the ground.
    • She sat straight in her chair, the small of her back never touching the chair.
    • Her raven hair was brushed down nearly touching her shoulders.
    • His arms remained stretched out above him, his knees were almost, but not quite, touching the floor.
    • And he's the only man I've ever seen who could sit in a chair and touch both elbows on the floor.
    • Descend until your left knee bends 90 degrees and your right knee nearly touches the floor.
    • His feet weren't quite touching the top of the roof.
    • He was incredibly professional looking, his black and gray robes nearly touching the floor.
    • She was still hanging over the edge of the bunk, the ends of her hair nearly touching my covers.
    • Then their lips touched for just a moment and then they drew back slightly.
    • Lie on the floor, face down, toes touching the ground and elbows positioned below your shoulders.
    • She was curled up in a cozy little ball with her arms around her knees, nightshirt trailing beneath her like a ghostly shroud, not quite touching the floor.
    • Clearings exhibited large quantities of grapes that crept along from shrub to shrub, their huge bunches of fruit nearly touching the ground.
    • Its majestic branches drooped dramatically, some nearly touching the ground, but all providing a cozy little curtain whenever the crew decided to hang around at its grassy base.
    • Knees bent fully, her skirt flares like a golden fan nearly touching the floor.
    • His head hung low, with his chin nearly touching his chest.
    • Of course, in my dreams I neither escape nor do I falter and stumble - I run hard, but my feet don't quite touch the ground, so I don't actually move.
    Synonyms
    be in contact, be in contact with, come into contact, come into contact with, come together, come together with, meet, join, connect, converge, converge with, be contiguous, be contiguous with, border, border on, be against, be up against, link up, link up with, adjoin, abut, neighbour
    1. 1.1 Bring one's hand or another part of one's body into contact with.
      使（手或身体其他部分）接触，碰
      he touched a strand of her hair

      他摸了一下她的一缕头发。

      she lowered her head to touch his fingers with her lips

      她低下头，用嘴唇吻他的手指。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • I felt slender fingers touch my chin and brought it upwards to meet his beautiful eyes.
      • He was a bit too close for comfort, but it felt good to feel his body occasionally touching mine.
      • Her face was cold and lifeless… it was just like touching a dead body.
      • She said the move, however, attracted call boys who began shouting and touching her body instead of helping her.
      • It is by virtue of this principle that the doctor who treats him, the nurse who cares for him, even the relative or friend or neighbour who comes in to look after him will commit no wrong when he or she touches his body.
      • He didn't grip her tightly but barely let his fingers touch her body.
      • None of the police officers at the scene said they had touched the body.
      • I can't stand to even touch my own body, to wash, even get dressed.
      • Stealthily I moved in, until I was so close I could have actually touched the little body that lay motionless in the grass in front of me.
      • She reached out to him, her whole body quivering, and touched his hand.
      • He took in a deep breath, touching my body gently, tenderly… hesitantly.
      • When he finally died, they touched his body as they bound him in a sheet, feeling the paper thin skin, almost touching bone.
      • I imagined just touching his weakened body, and it breaking into shards like a china doll.
      • He feels the officers watching as he touches the body with his latex-gloved hand.
      • A mother who picks up an affected new-born baby suddenly discovers she has left a trail of blisters across its body - just by touching it gently.
      • Nowadays, you know, my children are very aware, it's like you know, this is my body and you can't touch it.
      Synonyms
      press lightly, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke
    2. 1.2 Come or bring into mutual contact.
      no object for a moment their fingers touched

      他们的手指一时碰到了一起。

      with object we touched wheels and nearly came off the road

      我们的车轮相撞，差点开出路面。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Finally, their lips touched and for a moment, Tyler found himself in a haze.
      • Their lips touched softly and fused into a long, slow embrace.
      • Our fingers touched, and electricity crackled in the night.
      • But the moment their lips touched, he knew something inside of him had changed.
      • Before their lips touched, however, he hesitated slightly and looked at Molly to make sure she was okay with this.
      • The air around them seemed to be charged with electricity as their lips touched.
      • Right before our lips touched, he jumped back and pulled his hand away as if he suddenly realized what was about to happen.
      • It felt like an eternity before Lena would release her hold, but the moment their lips touched and their eyes closed, time lost all meaning.
      • Walking into the youth room, where the senior high Sunday school class met, my mind instantly recalled the moment our lips touched.
      • He held her hand until only their fingertips touched, then the distance became too great and the contact was lost.
      • The moment their lips touched, Kynan's inner battle was lost.
      • I felt a shiver run up my spine as our shoulders touched, and I moved away from him slightly.
      • Their hands touched slightly and Ann pulled back as though she had been burned.
      • How many times had he wished that the moments their fingers touched, their shoulders brushed, their eyes met, that they could tell each other what the both already knew?
      • Their hands touched slightly when they went to grab their drinks.
      • Their fingers touched momentarily, but it sent a familiar tingling through him.
      • The moment our lips touched, it was like a dam breaking and he grabbed me, kissing me hard, pushing me back against the bookcase.
      • For a brief second their lips touched in a light kiss, the caress of each other sending shivers down their spins.
      • She hands him back his credit card, and their fingers touch for a moment.
      • They reached, and for one agonising moment they touched fingers…
    3. 1.3Geometry Be tangent to (a curve or surface) at a certain point.
      〔几何〕与（曲线，表面）切触

  • 2Handle in order to manipulate, alter, or otherwise affect, especially in an adverse way.

    （尤指用有害的方式）处理，改变，影响

    I didn't play her records or touch any of her stuff

    我没有放她的唱片，也没有碰过她别的任何东西。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Nevertheless, these are dangerous animals and should not be touched or interfered with in any way by divers.
    • I hadn't touched the gear handle or flaps after the shot, and, therefore, reasoned the gear and flaps still were down.
    • McLaren were also fined even though the contents of the box were not touched and were legal.
    • Education chiefs in York have pledged not to touch the amount of money going to schools, despite planned budget cuts of £884,000.
    • We have found them in beds, hidden in children's rooms, in cellars with locked doors that do not look as though they have been touched for 30 years.
    • King Charles Court had not been touched for 30 years.
    • Blogger's new image feature has screwed up my template which I haven't touched in years.
    Synonyms
    handle, hold, pick up, move
    1. 2.1 Cause harm to (someone)
      给（某人）造成伤害
      I've got friends who'll pull strings—nobody will dare touch me

      我有一些关系很硬的朋友，没人敢碰我。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Her brother Ephes has murderous tendencies towards anyone who dares to touch her.
      • My stepmom didn't dare to touch me anymore and it's still the same between me and my dad.
      • An enormous hate wells up in her for the man who would dare to touch her mother; the woman who works herself almost to death to provide for her child.
      • Just smear some on your neck and I promise you, no vampire will touch you for a decade.
      • The fearsome, spotted creature was a kitten in his hands and ruthless to anyone else that dared to touch her.
      • If you dared touch her you are as good as dead and that is by my law!
      • I'm going to fight if you touch me or hurt me or do harm to my family.
      • There had been talk among their generals to bring her here before, but none had dared to touch her.
      • But Alexander did not leave, he came closer, but did not dare to touch me.
      • If you try to harm me, or touch me, you may suffer a worse fate.
      • Perceptions gathered during the consultation process include resentment about policing methods and that Asian young men in gangs are alleged to boast that police dare not touch them for fear they would riot.
      • As far as Kip knew, no one in Pete's neighborhood had touched him since, but Pete was always careful to sleep over at Kip's house after a late game.
      • After writing this article I could get into my car, strap a pork pie to my head and sing the national anthem while chugging down the motorway at a cool 70 mph and they could not touch me for it.
      • ‘The only one good thing about Kyle being shot at a party where several people where killed is that no one can touch him for all of the police that will be around him’ Blaze explained to the rest.
      • It can be flown in all shapes and sizes, there is no right way up, as there is with the Union flag; you can stick it in an office window and they can't touch you for it.
      • If they dare to touch me again, they will see what will happen to them.
      • We'd make sure they never touched this generation of students.
      • It wasn't that the government had left a legal loophole before 1974, whereby you could put a bomb in a pub and they couldn't touch you for it.
      • ‘I don't see why you're so concerned,’ he spat back, unable to control his words, ‘he'd never touch you for your brother's sake.’
      • There were reports of people hitting people but nobody touched anybody.
    2. 2.2 Consume or use (food, drink, money, etc.)
      the beer by his right hand was hardly touched

      他右手边上的那品脱饮料几乎没碰过。

      in three years I haven't touched a cent of the money

      三年里，这些钱我一分也没有碰过。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • But you can only take a quarter of the accumulated fund as a tax-free lump sum and you can't touch any of the money until you retire - or you're 50 at least.
      • That means a 35-year-old woman who quits her job to raise kids can't touch the money for 25 years.
      • I wouldn't know, I didn't touch any food or drink from breakfast onwards.
      • You can't touch your pension pot until you're at least fifty, which gives it time to grow.
      • From the very beginning, I knew that you were never even gonna touch this money.
      • If your employer goes bust, it can not touch your pension fund, but you may not get as much as you had originally thought.
      • The Deep has managed to build up credit worth £2.9m, but because it is a registered charity, does not pay tax, and therefore cannot touch the money.
      • We hardly touched our wine and it was all I could to keep my eyes open.
      • She spent most of her time under the settee, pressed up as tight into the corner as she could, and hardly touched her food.
      • ‘We don't want to touch the money, because we aren't the middlemen,’ Leonard said.
      • Are we still not touching money today because it's dirty?
      • You may not touch the funds saved in a retirement annuity before you are 55 years old.
      • I won't be touching this money for perhaps 25 years, so it's all going into the stock market.
      • Your investment mix would be limited, and you wouldn't be able to touch your money or borrow against it until you retire.
      • When he leaves each day, you clear the dishes but can't touch the tip.
      • Since you cannot touch the money until you retire, you no longer have a rainy-day fund, or a down payment for a house.
      • True, it is hard for a monk not to touch money and to live without the comforts of this world.
      • After one sip he put down the glass; he has not touched a drink for 18 months.
      • So Quiney can't touch the money at all unless he puts something in.
      • Pensions are a great way to save for the future because you can't touch the money until you retire.
      Synonyms
      taste, consume, eat, drink, take, partake of
    3. 2.3with negative Used to indicate that something is avoided or rejected.
      接触，碰及（常被回避或抵制的事物）
      he was good only for the jobs that nobody else would touch

      他只适合做别人都不愿做的工作。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • They do not want even to touch social and economic rights.
      • Hollywood was late to catch on, not least because no-one in the Cold War days would have touched a movie about two communists such as Kahlo and Rivera.
      • Mind you losing my job didn't do much for my reputation because no-one would touch me for the next three years.
      • But there were some things we didn't want to touch, like paedophilia.
      • I even came to him with that Faulkner book, which nobody would touch.
      • What's more, they'll never touch stock like this again either.
      • He went to Africa hoping to cover ‘an anticipated blossoming of democracy across the continent’, but in four years never touched the subject.
      • TV would not touch him for punditry duties, fearful of what he might say, and hence there was no glorious retirement into the public life of a celebrity, of the sort which his playing career so richly deserved.
      • I don't touch anything involved with electricity, for example.
      • Is there value to certain types of non-nutty Internet speculation that the mainstream media, for the most part, refuse to touch?
      • The result will create fear at the Today programme, where there should be pride. As so many times before, they were there with a story that nobody else would touch.
      • They are even afraid to touch Shakespeare for its vast scope of interpretations and description, and there is nothing more tiring than a poor teacher with a Shakespeare volume.
      Synonyms
      be associated with, concern oneself with, involve oneself in, involve oneself with, get involved in, get involved with, have something to do with, have dealings with, deal with, handle, be a party to

  • 3Have an effect on; make a difference to.

    影响；起作用

    a tenth of state companies have been touched by privatization

    十分之一的国有公司已经受到私有化的影响。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • It's like titillation value was more important than ability to touch or affect other people's lives.
    • The senior undergraduate course in American constitutional law touches a host of moral issues buffeting our country today.
    • The third issue concerns the question of repayment of legal aid, which touches the question of whether legal aid in a particular case will be a grant or be something more in the nature of a loan.
    • Your listeners should have the feeling at the end of your concert that something inside them has been touched and changed.
    • When one talks about reforms in the Muslim community, none of the important organisations touch these issues.
    • Howe doesn't see the extended Internet really touching consumers in a major way until 2007, due to the expense.
    • Drug abuse and crime now touch all levels of society.
    • Thanks for a great analysis touching many of the important bases.
    • The international jurisprudence to which we have referred does not touch this problem that we are concerned with, does it?
    • Before long, GPS will be touching our lives in so many positive ways that we'll wonder how we ever lived without it.
    • Nobody can fail to be touched by the plight of the two murdered girls in Soham and the ordeal of their families, friends and all those touched by this tragedy.
    • What has been labelled moral evil or human evil or sin touches every sphere of human activity.
    • Williams' plan is to raise awareness about ecological issues by touching the lives of students along his route, through school talks and media events.
    • It will come to touch all our lives in a profound manner, and will figure prominently in all we think and do at all levels of civic life for a very long time.
    • However, stress seems to be at an almost epidemic level, touching all levels of society.
    • But the teaching also touched sentient beings as moral agents, as agents capable of affecting the welfare not only of themselves but of others as well.
    • Anyone whose life has been touched by cancer will be aware of the vitally important work of Macmillan nurses.
    • Healthcare is a matter of concern in most countries and one that touches everybody in some way.
    • Powered by the breath, this massage is a dynamic dance of the spirit that touches many different levels of consciousness.
    • This was a concert for those touched by dispossession and resistance.
    Synonyms
    affect, have an effect on, concern, involve, have a bearing on, be relevant to, be pertinent to
    1. 3.1 (of a quality or expression) be or become visible or apparent in.
      the voice was touched by hysteria
      a wry smile touched his lips

      他的唇边流露出一丝怪笑。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • An unidentifiable expression touches Michael's features, then he lets his eyelids fall shut and rotates his head away from us on the pillow.
      • His expression touching bewilderment, he nevertheless returned my mother's overpowering embrace with a smile and genuine goodbye.
      • A wry smile touched Ame's lips as she ran her fingers over the faded image, eyes softening.
      • She held up her hands, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.
      • He was staring at Cael, a smile touching his lips, as the latter took a step back, away from him.
      • I watched him, quietly, with a gentle smile touching my lips.
      • Nick was leaning against the wall with an amused smile touching his lips.
      • He lowered his hand, a small smiled touching his lips.
      • Thomas frowned and shook his head, a minute smile touching his lips.
      • She shook her head, a shy smile touching her lips when she looked away from him.
      • Tanya bounded down the stairs, the slightest of smiles touching her lips as she recalled the previous night.
      • ‘You don't have to stay on the floor the whole way,’ he said, a smile touching his lips.
      • Remembering the Legendary Master's words after David had fallen, Viridian cannot stop the smile from touching her lips.
      • His face was peaceful, a faint smile touching his lips.
      • He looked at her strangely, a faint smile touching his lips.
      • She looked down at his hand, bringing it up to her chest, next to her head, a soft smile touching her lips.
      • He answered honestly, a small ironic smile touching his lips as he realized the double meaning behind his words.
      • She slid her seatbelt on, a smile touching her lips as she started the car, scooting her seat forward since she had shorter legs.
      • Her eyes were closed, and a slight smile was touching her lips.
      • She whispered, a faint smile touching her lips, it was coming back.

  • 4Produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in.

    触动，感动

    she was touched by her friend's loyalty

    她被朋友的忠诚感动了。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • We remember well his sermon at the pope's funeral in Rome, how his words touched our hearts and the hearts of millions.
    • I just wanted to extend my thanks to you for all of the wonderful books you've written, your words have touched both my mind and heart.
    • His words touched Callie, who didn't miss the tremor in his voice.
    • She was surprised to have been so touched by his words.
    • I think your words have touched my heart completely.
    • Kim took all of what Levi had said in slowly, the words touching her heart.
    • Jesus' words touched her heart and set her on the way of transformation.
    • His words touched my heart, as though he were speaking to me personally.
    • Teach your teachers and leaders to pray before class starts, asking God to guide their words and touch the hearts of their students.
    • Emma's family have been touched by the students' fund-raising.
    • His wife, who arranged the whole deal, kept trying to talk to him, but he couldn't take his eyes off Tommy Lee, who looked touched by the affection the dude had for him.
    • It was homemade, and the words touched my heart.
    • Her words touched my heart and the whole world seemed to crush me then.
    • She'd been touched by his words, his teachings, and had found herself swept along in the wake of his passage.
    • Her words had touched something deep within him, something bizarre and strange that frightened him.
    • One of them, named Song, was deeply touched by the words that described his miserable life counter to his warm heart, bringing tears to her eyes.
    • One thing was the same, however; the words touched them deeply and went straight to their hearts.
    • One of them, dressed in a violet pyjama and kurta, walked elegantly on the stage and greeted the students, who were touched by his appearance.
    • Dylan is so touched by her kind words, and comes out from behind the bushes, to the shock of everyone sitting there.
    • He wanted to break down in front of her and show her how those simple words had touched his soul.
    Synonyms
    affected, softened, moved, stirred, swayed, aroused, impressed, influenced, warmed, impassioned, upset, disturbed, distressed
    affect, move, stir, arouse, leave an impression on, make an impression on, impress, have an impact on, have an effect on

  • 5informal Reach (a specified level or amount)

    〈非正式〉达到（某个水平，数额）

    sales touched twenty grand last year

    去年销售额达到二万英镑。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • At one point in the day, the rupiah touched 10,135 per dollar before closing at a three-month low of 10,025.
    • The yen, meanwhile, held in check by Japan's central bank, can only manage a 41-month high, touching levels last seen in late 2000.
    • The total storage volume for RHW facilities in Sumida City touched 9,500 cubic metres by that date.
    • The rush on commodities stretched into the gold market, where prices touched 18-year highs.
    • The housing loan, the key component of the advance portfolio, touched the level of Rs 110 crore.
    • I know that no one touches a Level Ten in real life, but for me, that line is the only reason I still continue to run or fly.
    • The foreign currency assets also saw a similar increase of $169 million to touch $1,03,384 million.
    • At the same time, India's imports from China touched 1.74 billion US dollars, up 72 per cent.
    • But within a year, Yelena touched 4.10 metres at the World Youth Games.
    • With temperatures touching the 40s, it was not an easy task and, by the end of the week, we all smelled of sun cream and sweat.
    • He was confident that the growth rate would touch a high of nine per cent during the last two quarters of the current year itself.
    • The currency briefly touched 8.2700 on that day, a gain of 0.08 percent.
    • Software exports have touched Rs.5,841 crores this year, compared to last year's Rs.4,200 crores.
    • Auto component exports from India to our global operations have touched euro 72 million during the year 2003.
    • While doubling the female literacy rates, during this decade, the male literacy rates touched the 75.49 per cent mark.
    • The GDP growth rate touched new heights every quarter.
    • With elections round the corner, the irritation is bound to touch nightmarish levels.
    • From any standard this level is said to be touching the poverty line, but statistics show that despite the government's claims poverty is on the rise.
    • The city houses a population of seven million, which is slated to touch 8.8 million in 2015.
    • As the temperatures touched the 80s, there was a typical end of pre-season feel about the opening exchanges.
    Synonyms
    reach, attain, arrive at, come to, make
    1. 5.1usually with negative Be comparable to in quality or excellence.
      〈非正式〉（在质量，水平方面）可比较
      there's no one who can touch him at lightweight judo

      在轻量级柔道方面，没人能与他相比。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Chris [Cormier] can't touch Flex for symmetry and structure, and that's why I expect a lighter and better Wheeler to finish a strong second behind Ronnie.
      • There's no one who can touch Noble for flights of nonsensical fancy.
      • No one can touch them for the sheer beauty and perfection their sport can provide, certainly not serial champions such as Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
      • Define your agenda in terms of freedom, security, identity and democracy - ‘and no one can touch you for it’.
      • But when it comes to building lovable robots, no-on can touch Sony for cuteness (and no, they're not on sale yet).
      • At 45, Kennedy has spent one year short of half his life in parliament, and no other party leader can touch him for popularity; from integrity to personal appeal, he leads in the polls.
      • As to Ronnie, that dude is by far the best bodybuilder on Earth; he is in a class by himself, and no one will be able to touch him for years to come.
      • None of them, however, was able to touch Daru-brahman for as soon as they started, their chisels broke and fell to pieces.
      • Over the past five years, few teams can touch them for number of tries scored and appetite for attacking play.
      • The two men in occupancy for England are Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand - and when Brown is in this form neither can touch him for poise, pace and reading of the game.
      Synonyms
      compare with, be on a par with, equal, match, be a match for, be in the same class as, be in the same league as, be on an equal footing with, parallel, rival, come near, get near, approach, come up to, come close to, get close to, measure up against, measure up to

  • 6touch someone forinformal Ask someone for (money or some other commodity) as a loan or gift.

    〈非正式〉向（某人）借（或付）（钱），向（某人）讨要（物品）

    he touched me for his fare

    他向我借路费。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Seeing as how you're being so generous and all, maybe I could touch you for a few bob - er, I mean bucks.
    • Our old school, like many fee-paying establishments, has devised a way of reconnecting with its old pupils as they approach the stage in life when there would be some point in touching them for a donation to one of its projects.
    • Sasha, a charity worker, is more interested in cosying up to big fish than touching them for their money.
    • So in a fit of sentimentality and with the keen realization that the guy still has a couple hundred grand that you haven't touched him for yet, you name your first born after it.
    • You can touch Evan for the occasional meal or drinks but a million bucks is crossing the line.
    • The least expensive model will touch you for a couple of hundred bucks.
    Synonyms
    ask, approach

  • 7touch something inArt
    Lightly mark in features or other details with a brush or pencil.

    〔主艺术〕（用画笔、铅笔）轻轻勾勒

nountəCHtətʃ

  • 1An act of touching someone or something.

    her touch on his shoulder was hesitant

    她触碰他肩膀时有些犹豫。

    expressions of love through words and touch

    通过言语和触摸的爱意表达方式。

    you can manipulate images on the screen at the touch of a key

    你可轻轻按键来控制屏幕图像。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Stine was about to say something back, but at the touch of my hand, his eyes slowly closed.
    • At the touch of his hand, she turned to look at him and screamed.
    • He jumped at the touch of the cold water and I apologized for it being so cold.
    • Now thanks to a children's charity he can leap up and applaud because the new wheelchair rises at the touch of a button.
    • And the potential was certainly there via an amazing high-tech tuxedo that transforms its wearer into a super-hero at the touch of a button.
    • The whole way my eyes were burning at the memory of how he had flinched at the touch of a gentle hand.
    • Blonde turned to black, touches turned to kisses, and my tears gradually ceased.
    • Those travelling by train from Sligo railway station can now get their tickets at the touch of a screen.
    • He jumped at the touch of my hand to his bare skin.
    • At the touch of a button on a special panel, visitors can activate the speaking exhibit and decide how rude they want the award-winning TV presenter to be.
    • He ran his fingers across it wondering what it was supposed to mean, but at the touch of his hand words suddenly appeared.
    • A strange feeling thrilled the lusty youth at the touch of her warm hand, and almost involuntarily his eyes sought to meet those of the young maiden.
    • It's frankly unbelievable that at the touch of a button, I can choose between live or near-live performances from a host of acts at the world's greatest music festival.
    • She shrugged away at the touch of my hand, and continued her tale.
    • Blair opened his eyes at the touch of a hand on his forehead.
    • It was about three feet wide, six feet tall, and the doors were all sliding glass which slid open at the touch of a button.
    • At one stage, the cellular service providers presented a wide range of information services at the touch of key and enhanced memory and so on.
    • Alex jumps at the touch of Robert's hand on his shoulder.
    • At the touch of his hand, there was a slight wince of pain.
    • At the touch of his hand, all the tension dissipated from Robin's body.
    Synonyms
    press, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke, push, glance, flick
    1. 1.1 The faculty of perception through physical contact, especially with the fingers.
      （尤指手指的）触觉，触感
      reading by touch

      触读。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • They were doing this with their hands in the dark with just a flashlight, and just using their senses of touch, smell and sight.
      • Physical touch, affection, and the messiness of caring for an uncoordinated person did not come easily.
      • This being the case, I sometimes can't quite ‘get’ my partner's aversion to physical touch.
      • We're looking for the reduction in unnecessary infection, most of which are transmitted by contact or touch.
      • The wall will include different pieces of artwork to stimulate various senses including touch, smell, sight and sound.
      • Choosing whole fish is a sensory experience that involves touch, sight and smell.
      • But for those of us who practise and experience physical touch as a part of our lives, it is truly a powerful way of appreciating and accepting others.
      • Finally, users report enhanced pleasure from physical sensations, especially the sense of touch.
      • Even if one is blessed with the senses of touch, smell, speech and hearing, it is sight that gives shape to imagination.
      • Reassurance also came in the form of touch and physical closeness during the biopsy.
      • Our brain gets stimulatory inputs through the special sensory stimuli of touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste.
      • They have poor vision but a very good sense of smell and touch.
      • The feel of the fabric and the wood on the skin combines the sense of touch and sight so that sexuality is intertwined with violence to the body.
      • Sensation arises from contact or touch, illustrated by a man and woman embracing.
      • Her hearing and sense of touch were perfect if not a bit muddled but for the life of her she could not move one muscle.
      • There must have been grooves cut into the metal - perceptible only by touch.
      • Instead, many urged a renewed alliance of the faculties, with touch as their tutor, guide, and ultimate arbiter.
      • Born blind, she is possessed of an incredible beauty and an amazingly heightened sense of hearing and touch.
      • You see, I don't have much of a physical sense of touch, but I can feel things.
      • A client may provide clues about her cultural perceptions of space and touch.
      Synonyms
      feeling, feel, sense of touch, contact, tactile sense, tactility
    2. 1.2 A musician's manner of playing keys or strings.
      （音乐家的）触键法，弹奏法
      Example sentencesExamples
      • His tone is jeweled and his touch always poetic; he makes little effort to vary it in the name of stylistic authenticity.
      • Information is included on staccato touches and the two-note slur touch.
      • Legato is not necessarily a physical connection but an aural effect, a sweetness of sound, determined by the character of touch.
      • Skoogh plays them beautifully, approaching the first three intermezzi with a relative lightness of touch and keeping them moving.
      • These guys refresh classical music with their subtle touch, their accessible grooves, and a tiny klezmer edge.
      • The Raindrop Prelude had the requisite lightness of touch.
      • Brendel hasn't the kind of touch I am aiming for, but has such wonderful musicality.
      • The performances are lusty and emotional, and shouts or shrill whistling add the requisite folksy touch.
      • Bolet's touch, velvety yet penetrating, is a miracle, and he caresses each phrase as if it is taken from an operatic aria.
      • The glories of his phrasing and touch in the slow movements are where he shines through.
      • Her Chopinesque touch brought elegance to the movement's lovely second subject.
      • He sweeps through the Debussy pieces with a nonchalance that is almost disarming but his keyboard touch is indeed lithe and very beautiful.
      • On stringed instruments, articulation relies on the type of bowing, and in wind playing largely on tonguing, while in keyboard playing it depends on touch.
      • What makes Jansons unique in his métier is the intricacy of his musical touch.
      • Otherwise, the dying hot air balloon and giant bird sequences benefit most from Herrmann's deft musical touch.
      • With his lighter touch and easier manner, Tubridy has turned it into a fluent, pleasant interlude.
      • Piau here has a lightness of touch which sits perfectly with the Mozart.
      • Retention of a naturally compact hand through early release of selected notes and judicious use of staccato touch is a potent technique.
      • Here Engel's steely touch yet emotional warmth were ideally channelled.
      • The admirable Japanese pianist, Haruko Seki, here applies her refreshing lightness of touch to some of the solo piano pieces.
    3. 1.3 The manner in which a musical instrument's keys or strings respond to being played.
      （乐器键、弦的）弹性，弹力
      Viennese instruments with their too delicate touch

      弹性过于灵敏的维也纳乐器。

    4. 1.4 A light stroke with a pen, pencil, etc.
      （钢笔、铅笔等的）轻触
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He portrays his wife with the lightest of touches, using red chalk, heightened with white in soft, feathery strokes which evince the profound French influence on his art.
      • A touch of paint is given to the objects to provide special characteristics.
      • Finally, the tiny details were added by the deft pencil, filling in the gaps with intricate strokes in the very lightest of touches…
      • Incremental in approach, painstaking in process, the drawings coax a range of associations from the touch of the pencil.
      • Burningham really knows how to convey fatigue with the lightest of touches (the strokes of pen that make the eyes do much of the work).
      Synonyms
      press, tap, pat, nudge, prod, poke, push, glance, flick

  • 2A small amount; a trace.

    少许；一点

    add a touch of vinegar

    加点醋。

    he retired to bed with a touch of the flu

    他染上轻度流感，上床休息了。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • A touch of color to the cheeks, a little lipstick, maybe some eye shadow and mascara-makeup seems harmless enough.
    • A touch of embarrassment swept over Rebecca as she remembered their last encounter and she could not bring herself to meet his eyes.
    • A touch of mace or nutmeg is the only other thing needed.
    • A touch of ethnic jewellery completes a uniform that is cool, spaced-out and completely conventional.
    • A touch of uncertainty and anxiety clearly permeated the chilly autumnal air.
    • A touch of playfulness here and there dominates the divine characters.
    • A touch of Superstar Complacency had set in, I thought - which is a bit rich when you haven't even released your first single yet.
    • A touch of self-obsession can be slightly forgiven in this case then.
    • A touch of Mardi Gras with a carnival type atmosphere was the end result and children of all ages had a memorable experience on this special occasion in Tubbercurry.
    • I then added a quick touch of mascara and light pink lip stick.
    • A touch of first night nerves hit the more experienced actors hardest, as one might expect but no doubt they disappeared as the week progressed.
    • A touch of sweetness is a good thing in her book too.
    • A touch of cold in the air has brought the winter anglers out.
    • A touch of the seaside was even brought to the show with a debut appearance from the Southport donkeys.
    • A touch of humility before embarking on these lectures would also not come amiss.
    • A touch of irresponsibility isn't necessarily a bad thing.
    • A touch of breeze stirred a late hatch of flies; occasionally there was the soft plop of a sated brown trout.
    • A touch of arrogant confidence is part of the mix for competitive success.
    • A touch of cinnamon or nutmeg mixed with plain low fat yogurt and brown sugar makes a refreshing dressing for a fresh fruit salad.
    • A touch of mascara, a pinch of blush, a dab of lip gloss, and I was set to go.
    Synonyms
    small amount, trace, bit, suggestion, suspicion, hint, scintilla, tinge, tincture, whiff, whisper, overtone, undertone, nuance, murmur, colouring, breath, vein
    1. 2.1 A detail or feature, typically one that gives something a distinctive character.
      特色，特性
      the film's most inventive touch

      这部电影中最具创造性的特色。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Also offered is lunchtime delivery service, which, if you happen to work in the area, is a nice touch - call for details.
      • A nice touch is the addition of plasma tv screens to watch sporting events while you play.
      • Many houses had their window and door features highlighted with contrasting colours which is a nice touch.
      • In homage to the location, the 37 bedrooms feature many seaside touches.
      • This is a nice touch, as it allows the viewer deeper access into the reporters' experiences.
      • I really like the feature, and think it is a nice touch, as well as a time saver.
      • While a little light in content, this was an interesting feature and a nice touch.
      • The layout is cool and spacious, contemporary without overdoing it, with some well-thought out details and imaginative touches.
      • Little elements of character development also add a nice touch.
      • There are also a few nice unexpected touches, such as a list of the benefits of making a donation to charity or some other philanthropic gesture.
      • The live music is definitely a nice touch though.
      • As art school and 70s as it sounds, it has some clever and inventive touches - Blyth had a strong visual sense early on.
      • I recommend the extended version VHS for other nice touches like that.
      • The boards would be a nice touch, but they'd ruin the aerodynamics, so perhaps better additions are a chalk-striped suit, fedora, and spats to your wardrobe.
      • The story is simple, but it's the details and weird touches Lynch lays in that makes it complex and darkly disturbing.
      • It is a nice touch, but doesn't really fit with the feature presentation.
      • I think hiring a drag queen would also be a nice touch.
      • The rather abstract and distant creator of the Bible text is humanized by the preacher's narrative details and poetic touches.
      • The case is solid and well finished, with a number of nice additional touches.
      • The use of props and scenery is very inventive, there are nice little touches and stunning visual effects.
      Synonyms
      detail, feature, fine point, nicety, addition, accessory

  • 3in singular A distinctive manner or method of dealing with something.

    手法，风格

    later he showed a surer political touch

    后来他的政治手腕更为成熟。

    Example sentencesExamples
    • These two midfielders directed the game with an expert touch.
    • Before ET, Spielberg was just a bankable director with a populist touch.
    • In contrast to his previous ability to be all things to all people, in his second period of office from 1950 he lost his political touch and managed to offend even his loyal supporters.
    • Again, he scored with the local touch he managed to bring, proving that a lot of homework had gone into its making.
    • Success, even wild success, can be a fluke, but a lifetime of wild success requires a divine touch.
    • And there's a nice political touch with dear Cherie handling the case.
    • The comic elements included in the play needed to be handled with a deft touch rather than a heavy hand too.
    • He has more of a sure touch when dealing with pure retail.
    • Serving tea to the Dixon family in Mr Howard's sitting room showed a political touch which the Tories have lacked for the best part of a decade.
    • The woman's voice had been selected after tests with pilots showed that the feminine touch proved the most effective.
    • We made American jazz standards but with a Cuban touch and influenced by bossa nova too.
    • Hull University has launched a unique mentoring project into cyberspace in a bid to bring the feminine touch to senior management jobs across Britain.
    • Sometimes it can seem like the Lakers have the magic touch in selecting players, but don't read too much into this.
    • Craig David has been to Rishi's studio giving his single Spanish a bhangra touch, even managing to sing a verse in Punjabi that had been specially written for him.
    • She applied an artistic touch and created a lifelike clay face meant to depict Tut on the day of his death.
    Synonyms
    skill, skilfulness, expertise, dexterity, deftness, virtuosity, adroitness, adeptness, ability, talent, flair, facility, proficiency
    influence, effect, hand, handling
    1. 3.1in singular An ability to deal with something successfully.
      特长，才能
      getting caught looks so incompetent, as though we're losing our touch

      被人抓到令我们看上去很无能，好像我们在失去我们的才能。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • That meant one of two things: either she was losing her touch, or they'd upgraded their little bat-mobile.
      • The Prime Minister, we are told, is losing his touch.
      • Not having enough things that have annoyed me - perhaps I'm losing my touch?
      • However, I'm going to shout that honestly, Rick, you are losing your touch.
      • She had to wonder if maybe Mrs. Hamstrom was losing her touch, after all she wasn't young anymore, maybe she was becoming senile.
      • I must be losing my touch, I considered as the room's unnerving silence got the best of me.
      • Her Irish temper was rising, and Logan was glad he hadn't lost the touch.
      • Late in the 2002 season, as Miami was in the midst of one of its annual collapses, both of these cornerbacks seemed to be losing their touch.
      • He really is losing his touch… it only took three hours to convince him to let me paint.
      • If you've read this far and are asking that question, then I must be losing my touch, whatever little of it I had in the first place.
      • Maybe you're not losing your touch; maybe you're simply losing interest.
      • He was a Pro Bowler in 2000 before really losing his touch, and that's when the fans and the media in Denver started coming down on him.
      • It failed and I had such a hard time figuring out what was wrong, I went through a stage of wondering whether I was losing my touch.
      • Rumours are starting to spread that he's losing his touch.
      • I am usually very good about their tricks and jokes, but it seems I am losing my touch the more I stay away from people.
      • But there are signs that he could be losing his touch for self-promotion.
      • Ugh I think I'm losing my touch or something… that chapter was pretty awful eh?
      • We have read through your report, and it's fairly obvious to us that you're losing your touch.
      • Either he was the only security I could see, or I was really losing my touch.
      • Is it just me, or are some bands losing their touch?
      Synonyms
      talent, flair, aptitude, facility, knack, technique, bent, ability, expertise, capacity, capability, power, faculty

  • 4dated, informal in singular An act of asking for and getting money or some other commodity from someone as a loan or gift.

    〈非正式〉向（某人）借（或付）（钱），向（某人）讨要（物品）

    I only tolerated him because he was good for a touch now and then

    我之所以能容忍他仅仅是因为我可以时不时地向他讨要东西。

  • 5Bell-ringing
    A series of changes shorter than a peal.

    〔鸣钟术〕（敲奏编钟中）转调较少的钟乐

  • 6archaic in singular A thing or an action that tries out the worth or character of something; a test.

    〈古〉试金石；考验；测试

    you must put your fate to the touch

    你必须经受命运的考验。

  • 7US

    short for touch football

Phrases

  • a touch

    • To a slight degree; a little.

      略微；稍许

      the water was a touch too chilly for us

      对于我们来说，水有点冰。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Now I have a pint of hot water with a touch of lemon, then two pieces of fruit like a banana and apple.
      • If this can be achieved then the crowd tend to get a touch restless and this can filter through to the players on the pitch.
      • After a while it becomes a little too solid, but a touch more water fixes that.
      • In order to add a touch of calm to proceedings in Corsham she also read stories to the assembled youngsters.
      • This was a touch worrying as we were there for pretty much the same reason.
      • An exotic Chinese golden pheasant has brought a touch of the mystic east to inner city Manchester.
      • With my need for coffee still a touch greater than my fear of humiliation, I popped the question.
      • It was a clean-cut, agreeable dish albeit a touch bland for more adventurous palates.
      • There is a sick feeling developing in my stomach, accompanied by a slight fear and a touch of anger.
      • It may well be the old congenital paranoia, but I detect more than a touch of wishful thinking here.

  • in touch

    • 1In or into communication.

      联系，接触

      ask someone to put you in touch with other suppliers

      请别人帮你联系其他护理人员。

      she said that you kept in touch, that you wrote

      她说你保持了联系，还写了信。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Keeping in touch with people back home was easy as there was an internet café in almost every village.
      • I'd like to help you get in touch with the person you seek but it's just getting to be too big a drain on me.
      • Police were trying to get in touch with relatives of the dead and injured.
      • Moylan spent a week in Thailand, and after returning to England kept in touch with Wan by phone and mail.
      • All community groups have to do is get in touch and tell us how they believe broadband would help them.
      • Twenty-seven years of shared experiences later, they still kept in touch.
      • When Jade first went missing, she kept in touch with her mother but has now stopped contacting her and has not returned home.
      • This might be good news for the communications industry and good news for anyone trying to get in touch with us.
      • We really hope that people from Asian communities with an interest in charities will get in touch and join this scheme.
      • If you would like to become involved then please do get in touch with the staff at the centre and they will be able to steer you in the right direction.
      Synonyms
      contact, communication, correspondence, connection, association

    • 2Possessing up-to-date knowledge.

      掌握最新知识

      we need to keep in touch with the latest developments

      我们应该紧跟最新发展。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Make sure to get this web address to those who are living away so that they may be able to stay in touch with what we are all up to in this neck of the woods.
      • In Washington, President Bill Clinton cancelled his schedule to keep in touch with developments.
      • I would like to thank your newspaper for keeping me in touch with home developments.
      • She was an avid reader and kept in touch with her home county through the weekly Connaught Telegraph.
      Synonyms
      up to date, up with, in touch, familiar, at home, acquainted, conversant
      1. 2.1Having an intuitive or empathetic awareness.
        感受
        you need to be in touch with your feelings

        你应该去感受你的感情。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • He wrote her a rap song before he departed and he sings for me now, just to keep in touch with his feelings for this woman so far away.
        • I think everybody has a certain amount of that, and either you're in touch with it or you're not.
        • I want him to be in touch with his Australian heritage and learn to tackle and play the game that they play in heaven.
        • People here are outdoorsy, and still very in touch in with the land.
        • The sessions are aimed at getting individuals in touch with the inner self.
        • There's no confusing failure with getting in touch with one's feminine nature in his work.
        • We can consciously cultivate practices that bring us in touch with other kinds of temporality.
        • The movie elicits in people a connection or a hunger to be in touch with the transcendent.
        • This was the work of a vital performer in touch with the soul of the Cosmic American Music.

  • lose touch

    • 1Cease to correspond or be in communication.

      失去联系

      I lost touch with him when he joined the Air Force

      自他加入空军后，我便与他失去了联系。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • With so many people evacuated in so many directions, families have become separated and people have lost touch with their loved ones.
      • I went down to 5 ½ stone weight and I lost touch with friends and family.
      • A very jovial and likeable man Tom never lost touch with home and came back on regular visits when he enjoyed meeting up with his old neighbours and friends.
      • I do not know what he was involved in, because I had lost touch with him, but I learnt he was gunned down in an encounter in Baroda early into his career in crime.
      • I've somehow lost touch with the rest of my family over the years.
      • Most of the people who are going through this now had already lost touch with the only community they'd ever known.
      • Soon the cattle were sold and, over time, the farmer's wife lost touch with the farming community around her.
      • It was after - I lost touch with Erik for a few months, probably six months.
      • I'd lost touch with him, and was meaning to look him up.
      • Since becoming single again, I've been making an effort to get back in touch with old friends I'd stupidly lost touch with.
      Synonyms
      contact, communication, correspondence, connection, association

    • 2Cease to be aware or informed.

      不再意识到，失去消息

      we cannot lose touch with political reality

      我们不能脱离政治现实。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • They are very keen that their children should not lose touch with their culture.
      • A furious Selby burglary victim said today that Britain's law lords had lost touch with reality after calling for more lenient sentences for offenders.
      • Yet, Nani never felt that she was anything other than Indonesian, as her parents constantly reminded her that although they lived in a foreign country that did not mean that they had an excuse to lose touch with their origins.
      • According to this other picture, we in the West have lost touch with our humanity and with the community-mindedness of our ancestors.
      • Her hard work has paid off but she has traveled so far from her essence in the process that she feels she has lost touch with herself and lost touch with life.
      • Vanessa discusses several months after Layla's death how western society has lost touch with rituals that express mourning.
      • The speech sure sounded like a clunker to me, but Hugh was there, and it may be that I've simply lost touch with the Democratic mindset.
      • It is the fate of modernism that we repeatedly lose touch with nature, the environment, the planet.
      • It has become so narrow in its inner-city focus it has lost touch with its working-class roots in the bush as well as outer-metropolitan areas.
      • We've lost touch with the first principle of any democratic community: Live and let live.

  • out of touch

    • 1Lacking knowledge or information concerning current events and developments.

      缺乏对当前事件和发展的了解

      he seems surprisingly out of touch with recent economic thinking

      令人惊讶的是，他似乎不了解近来的经济思想。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Dame Stella is somewhat out of touch with modern archive services, which can be innovative and challenging.
      • Let's be clear: Davis is man completely out of touch with modern society.
      • Rarely has the church appeared so out of touch with present-day Scotland than it did during the cardinal's sermon.
      • It shows he's out of touch what's been going on in America over the last three years.
      • There was also a discussion after the dinner about whether the media elite is out of touch with America.
      • If that's true, then the UBP and the community are out of touch with the way the capital punishment debate is going.
      • I am completely out of touch with what's going on in the world.
      • Some people are impermeable to information or wholly out of touch with the topical subjects of the day.
      1. 1.1Lacking in awareness or sympathy.
        无视
        we have been betrayed by a government out of touch with our values

        我们被无视我们价值观的政府出卖了。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • The pitch, when you strip it down, is that the party is hopelessly out of touch, and needs someone to lead them back to where the rest of the country is.
        • People who deride the poor for laziness are out of touch with the difficulty of finding decent jobs.
        • Bangladesh played well today and Australia seemed a bit out of touch.
        • They were historic movies out of touch with history, out of touch with morality.
        • That they were surprised by the voters, and have no Plan B, tells us just how out of touch with the grass roots the elite is.
        • Westminster has been besieged over the past week by public sector workers protesting that the government was out of touch with them.
        • This president is completely out of touch with reality, and it showed again in his speech today.
        • It's easy to see why the message touches so many people, as so many people feel out of touch with nature; that is to say, alienated.
        • So I think his statement says more about his being out of touch with his own state than it has anything to do with me.
        • But researchers say parents appeared out of touch with their concerns.

  • to the touch

    • Used to describe the qualities of something perceived by touching it or the sensations felt by someone who is touched.

      摸起来

      the ankle was swollen and painful to the touch

      脚踝肿了，一摸就疼。

      the silk was slightly rough to the touch

      这种丝摸起来有点粗糙。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • It felt sticky to the touch, so we dissuaded my son from sitting in it.
      • Why are parts of my body cold to the touch when I don't actually feel cold in those places?
      • Her whole body seemed to be throbbing and every millimeter of her skin was painful to the touch.
      • They too were covered with small grey bruises, none of them bigger than the nail of my pinky finger and all of them painful to the touch.
      • For some strange reason, everything around seems to be slightly warm to the touch but that may be me.
      • The tube gets only slightly warm to the touch, and does not present a burn danger.
      • My entire face is the colour of a fire engine and sore to the touch.
      • The paper is soft, rough, and unpleasant to the touch, and the typeface and printing quality are a strain to the eye.
      • He's curled up in bed, burning hot to the touch, yet complaining of being cold.
      • Inflammation occurs and the lip is tender to the touch and so are, sometimes, the gums.

  • touch bottom

    • 1Reach the bottom of a body of water with one's feet or a pole.

      双脚（或杆）触及水底

      Example sentencesExamples
      • My feet touch bottom… It's cold in the water, but I'm warm.
      • I was at the absolute end of my strength and ready to give it all up and let myself sink when my foot touched bottom.
      • Allie sighed in exhausted relief when her wobbly feet touched bottom once more.
      • He sank below the surface, and his feet touched bottom!
      • He finally struggled close enough to shore so his feet could touch bottom, then he just stood there with the water lapping at his neck.
      • Suddenly your feet don't touch bottom any more and you notice you are farther from the beach.
      • Then I let myself down into the water which, on touching bottom, proved to be several feet over my head in depth.
      • Divers from the U.S. Geological Survey once descended 300 feet into the waters of Devils Hole but they never touched bottom.
      • As we conclude our series on ‘Swimming In The Deep End,’ we are reminded that when we get into ‘deep water,’ and we can't touch bottom, it seems like we are about to drown, it seems like we might not make it back to safety this time.
      • Her feet touched bottom and she stood up slowly, revelling in the water flowing from her as she rose from the pool.
      1. 1.1Be at the lowest or worst point.
        达最低，最差点
        the housing market has touched bottom

        房地产市场已跌到最低点。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • Still, no one knows whether the economy has touched bottom or is simply pausing before heading south again.
        • The economy has touched bottom, but the recovery is still sluggish.
        • But I have no idea where, or when, the market will touch bottom, and I don't really care.
        • There are, however, hints that the chain has touched bottom.

Phrasal Verbs

  • touch at

    • (of a ship) call briefly at (a port).

      （船，乘客）短暂停靠（港口）

      Example sentencesExamples
      • No fleet can possibly sail to or return from India without touching at some proper place for refreshment, and, in time of war, it must be equally necessary for protection.
      • His great fleet touched at the Orkneys, moved south to the Tyne to join with Tostig, and then entered the Humber, menacing York.

  • touch down

    • (of an aircraft or spacecraft) make contact with the ground in landing.

      （飞机，宇宙飞船）降落，着陆

      Example sentencesExamples
      • The areas where the aircraft touched down began to crack and crumble.
      • Investigators will want to know if the aircraft touched down in the proper place, if other planes had difficulty braking and if pilots were warned of waterlogging.
      • This is followed by the bump and lurch as the aircraft touches down and the engines roar into full reverse.
      • When his aircraft touched down at Shannon Airport he failed to appear from his vodka-induced slumbers to greet his Irish hosts.
      • The aircraft may have also touched down at a sideways angle.
      • At first no one thought the spacecraft had even touched down and that's what was reported globally.
      • Tailwheel aircraft might actually touch down tailwheel-first.
      • Air Force One delivers the American President, and whenever this enormous aircraft touches down or takes off a powerful statement is made.
      • We were still turning as we approached, dangerously close to the ground, and touched down heavily.
      • Both engines quit due to fuel starvation when the aircraft touched down.
      Synonyms
      land, alight, come in to land, come down, come to earth, come to rest, put down, make a landing, arrive

  • touch something off

    • 1Cause something to ignite or explode by touching it with a match.

      用火柴点燃（或引爆）

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Throw in the need to launch him across the room via strategically placed crossbows so that the dynamite can be touched off and you have a typical puzzle found in VV.
      • When you touch it off though, it gets your attention.
      • Often though, what we find is ugly surplus ammo that's just scary-enough to make you tense-a-bit when you touch it off.
      • When they were touched off, you truly felt like there was a thunderstick in your hand!
      Synonyms
      detonate, set off, trigger, explode, spark, spark off
      1. 1.1Cause something to happen, especially suddenly.
        （尤指突然）引发，触发
        there was concern that the move could touch off a trade war

        人们担心此举可能引发贸易战。

        Example sentencesExamples
        • But apparently what really touched it off was his discussion of the creation of a Palestinian state as part of administration policy.
        • One of the many earthquakes that rocked the campaign was touched off when Goldwater offhandedly said that Minuteman missiles, one of the mainstays of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, were undependable.
        • The killer waves were touched off by a 9.0 earthquake, six miles under the Indian Ocean.
        • There is an incident of some kind that touches it off.
        • As in Georgia and Ukraine, a rebellion was touched off in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan last week by popular outrage over an unfair election.
        Synonyms
        initiate, set off, start, begin, set in motion, instigate, ignite, trigger, trigger off, stir up, provoke, foment, cause, give rise to, lead to, generate, actuate, launch

  • touch on (or upon)

    • 1Deal briefly with (a subject) in written or spoken discussion.

      简略写到（或说到）

      he touches upon several themes from the last chapter

      他简单地谈到了最后一章里的几个主题。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Actually I'm interested in opening up this discussion and touching on the subject of the amount of time you spend playing games against the contrast of your increased age and the change in the games themselves.
      • We talked for forty-five minutes, briefly touching on the subject of last Saturday night, but mostly dancing around it.
      • This is a beautifully written book, touching on a subject that touches us all one day.
      • We talked for an hour and a half, only briefly touching on the subject of finalizing the tentative plans we'd made (picked a day and that was about it), and then he had to be off.
      • He packs in a great deal of information and touches on many subjects.
      Synonyms
      refer to, mention, give a mention to, comment on, remark on, bring up, speak of, talk about, write about, deal with, raise, broach, cover, allude to, make an allusion to, hint at, skim over

    • 2Come near to being.

      近于，濒于

      a self-confident manner touching on the arrogant

      近于自大的自信。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • This symmetrical infidelity makes for an interesting game of dominoes, in which the players' conversation skirts around questions of sex, marriage, and the rights of a wronged husband, without ever touching on the truth.
      Synonyms
      come close to, verge on, border on, incline to, approach, resemble, be tantamount to, be more or less, be not far from, be not far off

  • touch something up

    • Make small improvements to something.

      稍作修改，修饰

      these paints are handy for touching up small areas on walls or ceilings

      这些油漆可以很方便地对小范围的墙面和天花板进行修饰。

      Example sentencesExamples
      • The streets have been touched up and the bars may be buzzing, but the English market, which dates from 1788, is still as Victorian as it comes.
      • The workmen are busy touching things up and adjusting the projections.
      • It seems now that the Townlands mural has been reprieved and it is hoped when the renovation work is complete in the Loch Inn building the mural will be touched up and refreshed.
      • A full refinish is an expensive way to take care of minor stuff - and that usually reduces value too - but sometimes we can touch things up a bit and either eliminate or reduce the impact of a scratch.
      • All over Athens, in the lead-up to this morning's opening ceremony, buildings have been touched up and instant lawn rolled out to spruce up the ancient city for the Olympics.
      • I may touch it up at some point, but probably won't.
      • She prepared the actor's face, the others touched it up and perfected it.
      • Anyway, you look great, so stop whining and keep your face still so I can touch it up.
      • If you start work early, you probably haven't got much time to apply it in the first place, and you certainly haven't got much time to touch it up during the day.
      Synonyms
      repaint, patch up, retouch, renovate, refurbish, spruce up, restore, revive, renew, revamp, brush up, rehabilitate, overhaul, recondition, refresh, rejuvenate
      improve, enhance, gloss, dress up, embellish, embroider

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.

verb.1
phr.
phr.v.
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