Touch

n.
  1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact.
  2. (Physiol.) The sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin is recognized; the sense by which the properties of bodies are determined by contact; the tactile sense. See Tactile sense, under Tactile.
  3. Act or power of exciting emotion.
  4. An emotion or affection.
  5. Personal reference or application.
  6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence, animadversion; censure; reproof.
  7. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
  8. Feature; lineament; trait.
  9. The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the plural, musical notes.
  10. A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash.
  11. A hint; a suggestion; slight notice.
  12. A slight and brief essay.
  13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone.
  14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.
  15. (Mus.) The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as, a heavy touch, or a light touch; also, the manner of touching, striking, or pressing the keys of a piano; as, a legato touch; a staccato touch.
  16. (Shipbilding) The broadest part of a plank worked top and but (see Top and but, under Top, n.), or of one worked anchor-stock fashion (that is, tapered from the middle to both ends); also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters.
  17. (Football) That part of the field which is beyond the line of flags on either side.
  18. A boys' game; tag.
  19. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040.
  20. An act of borrowing or stealing.
  21. Tallow; -- a plumber's term.
    22. In touch
    1. in communication; communicating, once or repeatedly.
    To be in touch
    1. to be in contact, communication, or in sympathy.
    2. to be aware of current events.
    To keep touch
    1. To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement [Obs.]; hence, to fulfill duly a function.
    to keep in touch. --Touch and go ,
    a phrase descriptive of a narrow escape.
    True as touch (i. e., touchstone),
    quite true.