touch
Definitions
To bring a part of the body, especially the hand, into contact with something
触摸，接触
To affect someone emotionally; to move
打动，感动
An act of touching; the faculty of feeling through physical contact
触摸；触觉
A small amount or detail; a distinctive manner of doing something
少许，一点儿；（做事的）手法、风格
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedTouch came into English from Old French tochier, ultimately tied to the same Latin idea of contact behind tangere. From the literal hand-on-skin sense radiated a web of meanings: to move emotionally (it touched me), a small amount (a touch of salt), a personal style (the artist's touch), and staying connected (in touch, touch base).
Why It Means This
Touch is the everyday Germanic-route cousin of the Latinate tact/tang words. The leap from physical contact to emotion (to be touched) is one English makes constantly — to feel something deeply is to be 'reached' by it. And 'in touch' freezes the metaphor: staying connected is staying within reach of each other's hand.
Common Collocations
- 1.touch base碰头，简短联系
- 2.keep in touch保持联系
- 3.a touch of一点点……
- 4.get in touch with与……取得联系
Example Sentences
- 1.
Please don't touch the wet paint.
- 2.
Her speech touched everyone in the room.
- 3.
Add just a touch of cinnamon to the dough.
- 4.
Let's stay in touch after the conference.
Easily Confused
touch vs feel — touch is the active act of making contact (touch the screen); feel is perceiving through that contact or sensing an emotion (feel the texture, feel sad). You touch to feel.