What is touch? Pronunciation and usage in English

touch means . Learn how to pronounce and use touch through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of touch

touchverb/noun

/tʌtʃ/
Definition & pronunciation of touch

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "touch" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and it's good to be aware of both!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • Sounds like: "tuhch" (like "duhch")
  • Breakdown:
    • "tuh": This is a short, unstressed "uh" sound – like the "a" in "about." It's a schwa sound.
    • "ch": This is pronounced like the "ch" in "chair."

2. The British English Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: "tush"
  • Breakdown:
    • "tush": This has a more rounded vowel sound, similar to the "u" in "but" but shorter.

Resources to Help You Hear It:

Key Takeaway:

In most everyday conversations, especially in the United States, the pronunciation "tuhch" is what you’ll hear. However, be aware of the "tush" pronunciation if you're listening to British English speakers.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you (generally)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) This helps me know which pronunciation is more likely to be expected.

Usage and examples with the word touch in English

Let's break down how to use the word "touch" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings and ways to use it! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Physical Touch (The Most Basic Meaning)

  • Definition: To make contact with something or someone using your body.
  • Examples:
    • “I touched his arm gently.” (Physical contact)
    • “Don’t touch that!” (Warning against contact)
    • “She touched the painting carefully.” (Handling with care)
    • "The ice was so cold, my fingers touched it and went numb."

2. Feeling or Sensing (Often Related to Emotion)

  • Definition: To experience an emotion or feeling. This is often used figuratively.
  • Examples:
    • “I touched my heart with your kindness.” (Meaning I was deeply moved)
    • “The story touched me deeply.” (The story evoked strong emotions)
    • “He touched on a sensitive topic.” (He mentioned a difficult or emotional subject)
    • “Her words touched a nerve.” (Her words caused a strong emotional reaction)

3. Contact with Something (More General)

  • Definition: To come into contact with something briefly.
  • Examples:
    • “I accidentally touched the table with my elbow.” (Brief contact)
    • “She touched the keys of the piano.” (Briefly made contact with keys)

4. To Make a Brief Connection (Phrases)

  • “Touch base”: To make brief contact with someone to coordinate or update. (Business context) – “Let’s touch base next week to discuss the project.”
  • "Touch upon" / "Touch on": To briefly mention or refer to something. – “The lecture touched on the history of the region.” (Often used for topics)
  • “Touch something up”: To improve something slightly, often by making small repairs or adjustments. – "I need to touch up the paint on the walls."

5. In Games and Sports

  • Definition: To connect with the ball (in sports like basketball, volleyball, etc.)
  • Examples:
    • “He touched the ball to start the play.” (Basketball)
    • “She touched the net while spiking the ball.” (Volleyball)

6. Touch as a Verb – Related Actions

  • Touchdown: (American Football) – To score a point by carrying or catching the ball into the end zone.
  • Touch-screen: To interact with a device by touching the screen.

7. Touch as a Noun (Less Common, but Important)

  • Definition: A single, brief contact.
  • Examples:
    • "He gave her a quick touch on the hand." (Simple, brief contact)
    • "The touch of the fabric was incredibly soft." (The feeling of the fabric)

Important Grammar Notes:

  • "Touch" as an action verb: It's typically followed by a preposition when describing what you are touching. (e.g., "I touched the book," "He touched her hand").
  • "Touch" as a noun: It's often used without a preposition (e.g., "A single touch").

Resources to Help You Learn More:

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  • What kind of context are you interested in using “touch” in? (e.g., casual conversation, writing, a specific subject like sports?)

Synonyms for the word touch

Idioms of the word touch

be touched with something
to have a small amount of a particular quality
  • His hair was touched with grey.
  • Some of her poems are touched with real genius.
catch/touch somebody on the raw
(British English)to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about
    hit/touch/strike a (raw/sensitive) nerve
    to mention a subject that makes somebody feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc.
    • You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife.
    • My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
    • The article struck a raw nerve as it revived unpleasant memories.
    not harm/touch a hair of somebody’s head
    to not hurt somebody physically in any way
      not touch somebody/something with a bargepole
      (informal)to refuse to get involved with somebody/something or in a particular situation
      • Personally, I wouldn’t touch him or his business with a bargepole.
      strike/touch a chord (with somebody)
      to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
      • The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.
      touch base (with somebody)
      (informal)to make contact with somebody again
        touch bottom
        to reach the ground at the bottom of an area of water
        • I put my feet down and touched bottom.
        to reach the worst possible state or condition
        • Her career really touched bottom with that movie.
        touch/strike a chord (with somebody)
        to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
        • The speaker had obviously touched a chord with his audience.
        touch/tug your forelock (to somebody)
        (British English, disapproving)to show too much respect for somebody of a higher class, especially because you are anxious about what they think of you
          touch wood
          (saying)used when talking about your previous good luck or your hopes for the future, to avoid bringing bad luck
          • I've been driving for over 20 years and never had an accident—touch wood!
          within touching distance (of something)
          (informal)very close
          • We came within touching distance of winning the cup.
          • We live within spitting distance of the bus station.

          Practice with vocabulary touch

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. The committee decided to only ____ upon the controversial aspects of the proposal during the initial review.
          2. Please do not ____ the sensitive equipment without proper authorization.
          3. The board will ____ a final decision on the merger details by the end of the fiscal quarter.
          4. His presentation managed to ____ the core issues facing the department with impressive clarity.

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

          1. Which sentence uses "touch" to describe a physical, tactile action? a) The presentation will touch upon recent market trends. b) He added a final touch to his report before submission. c) Please do not touch the wet paint. d) They've lost touch with their former colleagues.

          2. Which of the following expressions relates to maintaining communication with someone? a) Break off contact b) Keep in touch c) Lose connection d) Sever ties

          3. When giving a presentation, it's often advisable to ____ briefly on each main point before delving into extensive detail. a) elaborate b) highlight c) touch d) expand

          4. The manager asked the team to ____ the new software features thoroughly before implementing them company-wide. a) explore b) examine c) investigate d) All of the above

          5. It is crucial to ____ all relevant stakeholders when planning significant organizational changes to ensure smooth transitions. a) consult b) inform c) engage d) All of the above

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. During the meeting, the project leader only addressed the budget issue in passing.

            • Rewrite the sentence using a form of "touch".

          2. The architect designed the new office with a special flair that made it feel welcoming.

            • Rewrite the sentence using a form of "touch".

          3. It's vital for leaders to be aware of the challenges faced by their employees.

            • Rewrite the sentence using a suitable replacement word, but do not use "touch" or its forms.

          Answer:

          Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

          1. The committee decided to only touch upon the controversial aspects of the proposal during the initial review.
          2. Please do not touch the sensitive equipment without proper authorization.
          3. The board will make a final decision on the merger details by the end of the fiscal quarter.
          4. His presentation managed to address the core issues facing the department with impressive clarity.

          Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

          1. c) Please do not touch the wet paint.
          2. b) Keep in touch
          3. c) touch
          4. d) All of the above (explore, examine, investigate)
          5. d) All of the above (consult, inform, engage)

          Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

          1. During the meeting, the project leader only touched upon the budget issue.
          2. The architect designed the new office with a special touch that made it feel welcoming.
          3. It's vital for leaders to grasp the challenges faced by their employees.

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