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To touch a sail (Naut.), to bring it so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes. — To touch
the wind (Naut.), to keep the ship as near the wind as possible. — To touch up, to repair; to improve
by touches or emendation.
Touch
(Touch) v. i.
1. To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only
at points. Johnson.
2. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression. [R.]
Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver. Bacon. 3. To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; — often with on or upon.
If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately
quitted it. Addison. 4. (Naut) To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
To touch and go (Naut.), to touch bottom lightly and without damage, as a vessel in motion. — To
touch at, to come or go to, without tarrying; as, the ship touched at Lisbon. — To touch on or upon,
to come or go to for a short time. [R.]
I made a little voyage round the lake, and touched on the several towns that lie on its coasts. Addison. Touch
(Touch), n. [Cf. F. touche. See Touch, v. ]
1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact.
Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting. Shak. 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.
The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. Pope. 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.
3. Act or power of exciting emotion.
Not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
Do strongly speak to us. Shak. 4. An emotion or affection.
A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy. Hooker. 5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.]
Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. Bacon. 6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence, animadversion; censure; reproof.
I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret. Eikon Basilike.
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