Touch \Touch\, n. [Cf. F. touche. See Touch, v. ]
   1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched;
      contact.
      [1913 Webster]

            Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Pure tactile feelings are necessarily rare, since
         temperature sensations and muscular sensations are more
         or less combined with them. The organs of touch are
         found chiefly in the epidermis of the skin and certain
         underlying nervous structures.
         [1913 Webster]

   3. Act or power of exciting emotion.
      [1913 Webster]

            Not alone
            The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
            Do strongly speak to us.              --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. An emotion or affection.
      [1913 Webster]

            A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy.
                                                  --Hooker.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly
            used.                                 --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence,
      animadversion; censure; reproof.
      [1913 Webster]

            I never bare any touch of conscience with greater
            regret.                               --Eikon
                                                  Basilike.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
      [1913 Webster]

            Never give the least touch with your pencil till you
            have well examined your design.       --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   8. Feature; lineament; trait.
      [1913 Webster]

            Of many faces, eyes, and hearts,
            To have the touches dearest prized.   --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   9. The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the
      plural, musical notes.
      [1913 Webster]

            Soft stillness and the night
            Become the touches of sweet harmony.  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   10. A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash.
       [1913 Webster]

             Eyes La touch of Sir Peter Lely in them. --Hazlitt.
       [1913 Webster]

             Madam, I have a touch of your condition. --Shak.
       [1913 Webster]

   11. A hint; a suggestion; slight notice.
       [1913 Webster]

             A small touch will put him in mind of them.
                                                  --Bacon.
       [1913 Webster]

   12. A slight and brief essay. [Colloq.]
       [1913 Webster]

             Print my preface in such form as, in the
             booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch.
                                                  --Swift.
       [1913 Webster]

   13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for
       touchstone. [Obs.] " Now do I play the touch." --Shak.
       [1913 Webster]

             A neat new monument of touch and alabaster.
                                                  --Fuller.
       [1913 Webster]

   14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard;
       test; proof; tried quality.
       [1913 Webster]

             Equity, the true touch of all laws.  --Carew.
       [1913 Webster]

             Friends of noble touch .             --Shak.
       [1913 Webster]

   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.
       [1913 Webster]

   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. --J. Knowles.
       [1913 Webster]

   17. (Football) That part of the field which is beyond the
       line of flags on either side. --Encyc. of Rural Sports.
       [1913 Webster]

   18. A boys' game; tag.
       [1913 Webster]

   19. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total
       possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040.
       [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   20. An act of borrowing or stealing. [Slang]
       [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   21. Tallow; -- a plumber's term. [Eng.]
       [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   In touch
       (a) (Football), outside of bounds. --T. Hughes.
       (b) in communication; communicating, once or repeatedly.
           

   To be in touch,
       (a) to be in contact, communication, or in sympathy.
       (b) to be aware of current events.

   To keep touch.
       (a) To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement
           [Obs.]; hence, to fulfill duly a function.
           [1913 Webster]

                 My mind and senses keep touch and time. --Sir
                                                  W. Scott.
           [1913 Webster]
       (b) To keep in contact; to maintain connection or
           sympathy; -- with with or of. Also

   to keep in touch.

   Touch and go, a phrase descriptive of a narrow escape.

   True as touch (i. e., touchstone), quite true. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]