Touch vs. Hit — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 2, 2024
Touch involves gentle contact with something or someone, emphasizing softness and care, whereas hit implies forceful contact, often with the intention to harm or affect the target significantly.
Difference Between Touch and Hit
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Touch is a gentle and often tender interaction, where the emphasis is on the lightness of contact. It's a fundamental way humans and animals communicate affection, comfort, or explore the world around them. On the other hand, hit conveys a much stronger action, characterized by force, impact, and sometimes aggression. It can signify an attempt to inflict damage or to make a significant impact on something.
When we talk about touch in a physical context, it often involves minimal pressure and is usually non-invasive, such as lightly tapping someone on the shoulder to get their attention. Conversely, hitting something involves a deliberate forceful action, like striking a ball with a bat or punching a bag, where the aim is to move, alter, or impact the object forcefully.
In emotional or metaphorical terms, touch can signify a subtle but profound influence, such as a movie that touches the heart, implying it has moved someone deeply but gently. Hit, in a similar vein, might be used to describe something that had a powerful and immediate effect on someone, like news that hits hard, suggesting a more intense and often jarring impact.
The intent behind the actions also differentiates them significantly. Touching is often associated with positive intentions like comforting, healing, or expressing love. Hitting, however, usually carries negative connotations, such as anger, frustration, or the intention to cause harm, unless used in specific contexts like sports or discipline where the intent and interpretation might differ.
Despite their differences, both touch and hit are forms of physical interaction that can convey a wide range of emotions and intentions, influenced heavily by the context in which they are used. While touch leans towards gentleness and care, hitting is aligned with force and impact, showcasing the diverse ways physical actions can communicate feelings and intentions.
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Comparison Chart
Intensity of Contact
Gentle, minimal pressure
Forceful, with significant pressure
Intention
Often positive (comfort, care)
Often negative (harm, impact)
Emotional Connotation
Tender, comforting
Aggressive, impactful
Physical Outcome
Minimal physical alteration
Significant change or damage
Contextual Usage
Expressing affection, exploration
Aggression, sports, discipline
Compare with Definitions
Touch
To make gentle contact.
She touched the fabric to feel its texture.
Hit
To strike with force.
He hit the ball out of the park.
Touch
To affect emotionally.
The story touched him deeply.
Hit
Making contact with significant force.
The hail hit the roof loudly.
Touch
Physical contact with minimal pressure.
The butterfly's wings touched her hand softly.
Hit
A powerful physical interaction.
The boxer hit his opponent hard.
Touch
A light and tender interaction.
Their brief touch conveyed deep comfort.
Hit
Engaging in an action with intent to impact.
The campaign hit its target audience effectively.
Touch
Engaging with something carefully.
He touched the topic delicately in conversation.
Hit
To affect strongly or negatively.
The news hit her like a ton of bricks.
Touch
Come into or be in contact with
He leaned back so that only two legs of his chair touched the floor
Hit
To come into contact with forcefully; strike
The car hit the guardrail.
Touch
Handle in order to interfere with, alter, or otherwise affect
I didn't play her records or touch any of her stuff
Hit
To cause to come into contact
She hit her hand against the wall.
Touch
Affect or concern
A tenth of state companies have been touched by privatization
Hit
To deal a blow to
He hit the punching bag.
Touch
Produce feelings of affection, gratitude, or sympathy in
She was touched by her friend's loyalty
Hit
To cause an implement or missile to come forcefully into contact with
Hit the nail with a hammer.
Touch
Reach (a specified level or amount)
Sales touched twenty grand last year
Hit
To press or push (a key or button, for example)
Hit the return key by mistake.
Touch
Ask someone for (money or some other commodity) as a loan or gift
He touched me for his fare
Hit
To reach with a propelled ball or puck
Hit the running back with a pass.
Touch
Lightly mark in features or other details with a brush or pencil.
Hit
To score in this way
She hit the winning basket.
Touch
An act of touching someone or something
Her touch on his shoulder was hesitant
Manipulate images on the screen at the touch of a key
Expressions of love through words and touch
Hit
To perform (a shot or maneuver) successfully
Couldn't hit the jump shot.
Touch
A small amount; a trace
He retired to bed with a touch of flu
Add a touch of vinegar
Hit
To propel with a stroke or blow
Hit the ball onto the green.
Touch
A distinctive manner or method of dealing with something
Later he showed a surer political touch
Hit
To execute (a base hit) successfully
Hit a single.
Touch
The area beyond the sidelines, out of play
The idea was kicked firmly into touch by the authorities
His clearance went directly into touch
Hit
To bat against (a pitcher or kind of pitch) successfully
Can't hit a slider.
Touch
An act of asking for and getting a loan or gift from someone
I only tolerated him because he was good for a touch now and then
Hit
To affect, especially adversely
The company was hit hard by the recession. Influenza hit the elderly the hardest.
Touch
A series of changes shorter than a peal.
Hit
To be affected by (a negative development)
Their marriage hit a bad patch.
Touch
A thing that tests the worth or character of something
You must put your fate to the touch
Hit
To win (a prize, for example), especially in a lottery.
Touch
To cause or permit a part of the body, especially the hand or fingers, to come in contact with so as to feel
Reached out and touched the smooth stone.
Hit
To arise suddenly in the mind of; occur to
It finally hit him that she might be his long-lost sister.
Touch
To bring something into light contact with
Touched the sore spot with a probe.
Hit
(Informal) To go to or arrive at
We hit the beach early.
Touch
To bring (one thing) into light contact with something else
Grounded the radio by touching a wire to it.
Touching fire to a fuse.
Hit
(Informal) To attain or reach
Monthly sales hit a new high. She hit 40 on her last birthday.
Touch
To press or push lightly; tap
Touched a control to improve the TV picture.
Touched 19 on the phone to get room service.
Hit
To produce or represent accurately
Trying to hit the right note.
Touch
To lay hands on in violence
I never touched him!.
Hit
(Games) To deal cards to.
Touch
To eat or drink; taste
She didn't touch her food.
Hit
(Sports) To bite on or take (bait or a lure). Used of a fish.
Touch
To disturb or move by handling
Just don't touch anything in my room!.
Hit
To strike or deal a blow.
Touch
To meet without going beyond; adjoin
The ridge where his property touches mine.
Hit
To come into contact with something; collide.
Touch
(Mathematics) To be tangent to.
Hit
To attack
The raiders hit at dawn.
Touch
To come up to; reach
When the thermometer touches 90°.
Hit
To happen or occur
The storm hit without warning.
Touch
To match in quality; equal
Rival artists can't touch her work at its best.
Hit
To achieve or find something desired or sought
Finally hit on the answer.
Hit upon a solution to the problem.
Touch
To deal with, especially in passing; treat briefly or allusively
Some remarks touching recent events.
Hit
(Baseball) To bat or bat well
Their slugger hasn't been hitting lately.
Touch
To have an effect on
Environmental problems that touch us all.
Hit
(Sports) To score by shooting, especially in basketball
Hit on 7 of 8 shots.
Touch
To affect the emotions of
An appeal that touched us deeply.
Hit
To ignite a mixture of air and fuel in the cylinders. Used of an internal-combustion engine.
Touch
To injure slightly
Plants touched by frost.
Hit
A collision or impact.
Touch
To color slightly; tinge
A white petal touched with pink.
Hit
A successfully executed shot, blow, thrust, or throw.
Touch
To draw with light strokes.
Hit
(Sports) A deliberate collision with an opponent, such as a body check in ice hockey.
Touch
To change or improve by adding fine lines or strokes.
Hit
A successful or popular venture
A Broadway hit.
Touch
To stamp (tested metal).
Hit
A match of data in a search string against data that one is searching.
Touch
(Slang) To wheedle a loan or handout from
Touched a friend for five dollars.
Hit
A connection made to a website over the internet or another network
Our company's website gets about 250,000 hits daily.
Touch
(Archaic) To strike or pluck the keys or strings of (a musical instrument).
Hit
An apt or effective remark.
Touch
To play (a musical piece).
Hit
Abbr. H(Baseball) A base hit.
Touch
To touch someone or something.
Hit
A dose of a narcotic drug.
Touch
To be or come into contact
Don't let the live wires touch.
Hit
A puff of a cigarette or a pipe.
Touch
The act or an instance of touching.
Hit
(Slang) A murder planned and carried out usually by a member of an underworld syndicate.
Touch
A light push; a tap
An electric switch that requires just a touch.
Hit
To strike.
Touch
(Sports) An instance of contacting or propelling the ball or puck
Scored on the first touch.
Hit
(transitive) To administer a blow to, directly or with a weapon or missile.
One boy hit the other.
Touch
The physiological sense by which external objects or forces are perceived through contact with the body.
Hit
(transitive) To come into contact with forcefully and suddenly.
The ball hit the fence.
Touch
A sensation experienced in touching something with a characteristic texture
Felt the touch of snowflakes on her face.
Hit
(intransitive) To strike against something.
Touch
A discernible mark or effect left by contact with something.
Hit
(transitive) To activate a button or key by pressing and releasing it.
Hit the Enter key to continue.
Touch
A small change or addition, or the effect achieved by it
Candlelight provided just the right touch.
Hit
To kill a person, usually on the instructions of a third party.
Hit him tonight and throw the body in the river.
Touch
A suggestion, hint, or tinge
A touch of jealousy.
Hit
To attack, especially amphibiously.
If intelligence had been what it should have been, I don't think we'd ever have hit that island.
Touch
A mild attack
A touch of the flu.
Hit
To affect someone, as if dealing a blow to that person.
Their coffee really hits the spot.
I used to listen to that song all the time, but it hits different(ly) now.
Touch
A small amount; a dash
A touch of paprika.
Hit
To manage to touch (a target) in the right place.
I hit the jackpot.
Touch
A manner or technique of striking the keys of a keyboard instrument
He played briskly with a light touch.
Hit
To switch on.
Somebody's been here! Hit the lights!
Touch
The resistance to pressure characteristic of the keys of a keyboard
An old piano with uneven touch.
Hit
To briefly visit.
We hit the grocery store on the way to the park.
Touch
An ability to propel a ball a desired distance; control or accuracy
A golfer with no touch around the green.
Hit
To encounter an obstacle or other difficulty.
We hit a lot of traffic coming back from the movies.
Touch
A facility; a knack
Retained his touch as a carpenter in his retirement.
Hit
(heading) To attain, to achieve.
Touch
A characteristic way of doing things
Recognized my friend's touch in the choice of the card.
Hit
To reach or achieve.
The movie hits theaters in December.
The temperature could hit 110°F tomorrow.
We hit Detroit at one in the morning but kept driving through the night.
Touch
The state of being in contact or communication
Kept in touch with several classmates.
Out of touch with current trends.
Hit
(intransitive) To meet or reach what was aimed at or desired; to succeed, often by luck.
Touch
An official stamp indicating the quality of a metal product.
Hit
To guess; to light upon or discover.
Touch
The act of approaching someone for a loan or handout.
Hit
(transitive) To affect negatively.
The economy was hit by a recession.
The hurricane hit his fishing business hard.
Touch
A prospect for a loan or handout
A generous person, a soft touch for beggars.
Hit
(metaphorically) To attack.
Touch
The area just outside the sidelines in soccer or just outside and including the sidelines in rugby.
Hit
To make a play.
Touch
Touch football.
Hit
In blackjack, to deal a card to.
Hit me.
Touch
Primarily physical senses.
Hit
To come up to bat.
Jones hit for the pitcher.
Touch
(transitive) To make physical contact with; to bring the hand, finger or other part of the body into contact with.
Hit
(backgammon) To take up, or replace by a piece belonging to the opposing player; said of a single unprotected piece on a point.
Touch
(transitive) To come into (involuntary) contact with; to meet or intersect.
Hit
To use; to connect to.
The external web servers hit DBSRV7, but the internal web server hits DBSRV3.
Touch
(intransitive) To come into physical contact, or to be in physical contact.
Hit
To inhale an amount of smoke from a narcotic substance, particularly marijuana.
Touch
(intransitive) To make physical contact with a thing.
Hit
(of an exercise) to affect, to work a body part.
This is another great exercise which hits the long head.
Touch
(transitive) To physically disturb; to interfere with, molest, or attempt to harm through contact.
If you touch her, I'll kill you.
Hit
To work out
With that said, the group hitting their legs just once a week still made gains.
Touch
(transitive) To make intimate physical contact with a person.
Hit
A blow; a punch; a striking against; the collision of one body against another; the stroke that touches anything.
The hit was very slight.
Touch
(transitive) To cause to be briefly in contact with something.
He quickly touched his knee to the worn marble.
The demonstrator nearly touched the rod on the ball.
She touched her lips to the glass.
Hit
Something very successful, such as a song, film, or video game, that receives widespread recognition and acclaim.
Touch
(transitive) To physically affect in specific ways implied by context.
Hit
An attack on a location, person or people.
Touch
(transitive) To consume, or otherwise use.
Hit
A collision of a projectile with the target.
Touch
(intransitive) Of a ship or its passengers: to land, to make a short stop (at).
Hit
In the game of Battleship, a correct guess at where one's opponent ship is.
Touch
To lay hands on (someone suffering from scrofula) as a form of cure, as formerly practised by English and French monarchs.
Hit
A match found by searching a computer system or search engine
Touch
To fasten; to take effect; to make impression.
Hit
(Internet) A measured visit to a web site, a request for a single file from a web server.
My site received twice as many hits after being listed in a search engine.
Touch
(nautical) To bring (a sail) so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
Hit
An approximately correct answer in a test set.
Touch
To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
Hit
(baseball) The complete play, when the batter reaches base without the benefit of a walk, error, or fielder’s choice.
The catcher got a hit to lead off the fifth.
Touch
(nautical) To keep the ship as near (the wind) as possible.
To touch the wind
Hit
(colloquial) A dose of an illegal or addictive drug.
Where am I going to get my next hit?
Touch
Primarily non-physical senses.
Hit
A premeditated murder done for criminal or political purposes.
Touch
(transitive) To imbue or endow with a specific quality.
My grandfather, as many people know, was touched with greatness.
Hit
(dated) A peculiarly apt expression or turn of thought; a phrase which hits the mark.
A happy hit
Touch
To deal with in speech or writing; to mention briefly, to allude to.
Hit
(backgammon) A move that throws one of the opponent's men back to the entering point.
Touch
(intransitive) To deal with in speech or writing; briefly to speak or write (on or upon something).
Hit
(backgammon) A game won after the adversary has removed some of his men. It counts for less than a gammon.
Touch
(transitive) To concern, to have to do with.
Hit
Very successful.
The band played their hit song to the delight of the fans.
Touch
(transitive) To affect emotionally; to bring about tender or painful feelings in.
Stefan was touched by the song's message of hope.
Hit
(dialectal) It.
Touch
To affect in a negative way, especially only slightly.
He had been drinking over lunch, and was clearly touched.
Hit
It.
Touch
To give royal assent to by touching it with the sceptre.
The bill was finally touched after many hours of deliberation.
Hit
To reach with a stroke or blow; to strike or touch, usually with force; especially, to reach or touch (an object aimed at).
I think you have hit the mark.
Touch
To obtain money from, usually by borrowing (from a friend).
I was running short, so I touched old Bertie for a fiver.
Hit
To reach or attain exactly; to meet according to the occasion; to perform successfully; to attain to; to accord with; to be conformable to; to suit.
Birds learning tunes, and their endeavors to hit the notes right.
There you hit him; . . . that argument never fails with him.
Whose saintly visage is too brightTo hit the sense of human sight.
He scarcely hit my humor.
Touch
To disturb the mental functions of; to make somewhat insane; often followed with "in the head".
You must be touched if you think I'm taking your advice.
Hit
To guess; to light upon or discover.
Touch
To be on the level of; to approach in excellence or quality.
Hit
To take up, or replace by a piece belonging to the opposing player; - said of a single unprotected piece on a point.
Touch
(transitive) To come close to; to approach.
Hit
To meet or come in contact; to strike; to clash; - followed by against or on.
If bodies be extension alone, how can they move and hit one against another?
Corpuscles, meeting with or hitting on those bodies, become conjoined with them.
Touch
To mark (a file or document) as having been modified.
Hit
To meet or reach what was aimed at or desired; to succeed, - often with implied chance, or luck.
And oft it hitsWhere hope is coldest and despair most fits.
And millions miss for one that hits.
Touch
To try; to prove, as with a touchstone.
Hit
A striking against; the collision of one body against another; the stroke that touches anything.
So he the famed Cilician fencer praised,And, at each hit, with wonder seems amazed.
Touch
To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush.
Hit
A stroke of success in an enterprise, as by a fortunate chance; as, he made a hit;
What late he called a blessing, now was wit,And God's good providence, a lucky hit.
Touch
(obsolete) To infect; to affect slightly.
Hit
A peculiarly apt expression or turn of thought; a phrase which hits the mark; as, a happy hit.
Touch
To strike; to manipulate; to play on.
To touch an instrument of music
Hit
A game won at backgammon after the adversary has removed some of his men. It counts less than a gammon.
Touch
To perform, as a tune; to play.
Hit
A striking of the ball; as, a safe hit; a foul hit; - sometimes used specifically for a base hit.
Touch
To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly.
Hit
An act of murder performed for hire, esp. by a professional assassin.
Touch
An act of touching, especially with the hand or finger.
Suddenly, in the crowd, I felt a touch at my shoulder.
Hit
(baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball);
He came all the way around on Williams' hit
Touch
The faculty or sense of perception by physical contact.
With the lights out, she had to rely on touch to find her desk.
Hit
The act of contacting one thing with another;
Repeated hitting raised a large bruise
After three misses she finally got a hit
Touch
The style or technique with which one plays a musical instrument.
He performed one of Ravel's piano concertos with a wonderfully light and playful touch.
Hit
A conspicuous success;
That song was his first hit and marked the beginning of his career
That new Broadway show is a real smasher
The party went with a bang
Touch
(music) The particular or characteristic mode of action, or the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers.
A heavy touch, or a light touch
Hit
(physics) an brief event in which two or more bodies come together;
The collision of the particles resulted in an exchange of energy and a change of direction
Touch
A distinguishing feature or characteristic.
Clever touches like this are what make her such a brilliant writer.
Hit
A dose of a narcotic drug
Touch
A little bit; a small amount.
Move it left just a touch and it will be perfect.
I'd like to see a touch more enthusiasm in the project.
Hit
A murder carried out by an underworld syndicate;
It has all the earmarks of a Mafia hit
Touch
The part of a sports field beyond the touchlines or goal-lines.
He got the ball, and kicked it straight out into touch.
Hit
A connection made via the internet to another website;
WordNet gets many hits from users worldwide
Touch
A relationship of close communication or understanding.
He promised to keep in touch while he was away.
Lose touch
Hit
Cause to move by striking;
Hit a ball
Touch
The ability to perform a task well; aptitude.
I used to be a great chess player but I've lost my touch.
Hit
Hit against; come into sudden contact with;
The car hit a tree
He struck the table with his elbow
Touch
(obsolete) Act or power of exciting emotion.
Hit
Affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely;
We were hit by really bad weather
He was stricken with cancer when he was still a teenager
The earthquake struck at midnight
Touch
(obsolete) An emotion or affection.
Hit
Deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument;
He hit her hard in the face
Touch
(obsolete) Personal reference or application.
Hit
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
Touch
A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
Hit
Reach a point in time, or a certain state or level;
The thermometer hit 100 degrees
This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour
Touch
(obsolete) A brief essay.
Hit
Hit with a missile from a weapon
Touch
(obsolete) A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone.
Hit
Cause to experience suddenly;
Panic struck me
An interesting idea hit her
A thought came to me
The thought struck terror in our minds
They were struck with fear
Touch
(obsolete) Examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.
Hit
Make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target;
The Germans struck Poland on Sept. 1, 1939
We must strike the enemy's oil fields
In the fifth inning, the Giants struck, sending three runners home to win the game 5 to 2
Touch
(shipbuilding) The broadest part of a plank worked top and but, 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.
Hit
Hit the intended target or goal
Touch
The children's game of tag.
Hit
Produce by manipulating keys or strings of musical instruments, also metaphorically;
The pianist strikes a middle C
Strike `z' on the keyboard
Her comments struck a sour note
Touch
(bell-ringing) A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, i.e. less than 5,040.
Hit
Encounter by chance;
I stumbled across a long-lost cousin last night in a restaurant
Touch
(slang) An act of borrowing or stealing something.
Hit
Gain points in a game;
The home team scored many times
He hit a home run
He hit .300 in the past season
Touch
Tallow.
Hit
Consume to excess;
Hit the bottle
Touch
Form; standard of performance.
Hit
Kill intentionally and with premeditation;
The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
Touch
(Australian rules football) A disposal of the ball during a game, i.e. a kick or a handball.
Hit
Drive something violently into a location;
He hit his fist on the table
She struck her head on the low ceiling
Touch
To come in contact with; to hit or strike lightly against; to extend the hand, foot, or the like, so as to reach or rest on.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spearTouched lightly.
Touch
To perceive by the sense of feeling.
Nothing but body can be touched or touch.
Touch
To come to; to reach; to attain to.
The god, vindictive, doomed them never more-Ah, men unblessed! - to touch their natal shore.
Touch
To try; to prove, as with a touchstone.
Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed.
Touch
To relate to; to concern; to affect.
The quarrel toucheth none but us alone.
Touch
To handle, speak of, or deal with; to treat of.
Storial thing that toucheth gentilesse.
Touch
To meddle or interfere with; as, I have not touched the books.
Touch
To affect the senses or the sensibility of; to move; to melt; to soften; especially, to cause feelings of pity, compassion, sympathy, or gratitude in.
What of sweet beforeHath touched my sense, flat seems to this and harsh.
The tender sire was touched with what he said.
Touch
To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush.
The lines, though touched but faintly, are drawn right.
Touch
To infect; to affect slightly.
Touch
To make an impression on; to have effect upon.
Its face . . . so hard that a file will not touch it.
Touch
To strike; to manipulate; to play on; as, to touch an instrument of music.
[They] touched their golden harps.
Touch
To perform, as a tune; to play.
A person is the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet.
Touch
To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly.
Touch
To harm, afflict, or distress.
Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee.
Touch
To affect with insanity, especially in a slight degree; to make partially insane; - rarely used except in the past participle.
She feared his head was a little touched.
Touch
To lay a hand upon for curing disease.
Touch
To compare with; to be equal to; - usually with a negative; as, he held that for good cheer nothing could touch an open fire.
Touch
To induce to give or lend; to borrow from; as, to touch one for a loan; hence, to steal from.
Touch
To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only at points.
Touch
To fasten; to take effect; to make impression.
Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver.
Touch
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 immediatelyquitted it.
Touch
To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
Touch
The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact.
Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting.
Touch
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.
Touch
Act or power of exciting emotion.
Not aloneThe death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,Do strongly speak to us.
Touch
An emotion or affection.
A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy.
Touch
Personal reference or application.
Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used.
Touch
A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence, animadversion; censure; reproof.
I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret.
Touch
A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design.
Touch
Feature; lineament; trait.
Of many faces, eyes, and hearts,To have the touches dearest prized.
Touch
The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the plural, musical notes.
Soft stillness and the nightBecome the touches of sweet harmony.
Touch
A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash.
Eyes La touch of Sir Peter Lely in them.
Madam, I have a touch of your condition.
Touch
A hint; a suggestion; slight notice.
A small touch will put him in mind of them.
Touch
A slight and brief essay.
Print my preface in such form as, in the booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch.
Touch
A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for touchstone.
A neat new monument of touch and alabaster.
Touch
Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard; test; proof; tried quality.
Equity, the true touch of all laws.
Friends of noble touch .
Touch
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.
Touch
That part of the field which is beyond the line of flags on either side.
Touch
A boys' game; tag.
Touch
A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040.
Touch
An act of borrowing or stealing.
Touch
Tallow; - a plumber's term.
My mind and senses keep touch and time.
Touch
The event of something coming in contact with the body;
He longed for the touch of her hand
The cooling touch of the night air
Touch
The faculty of touch;
Only sight and touch enable us to locate objects in the space around us
Touch
A suggestion of some quality;
There was a touch of sarcasm in his tone
He detected a ghost of a smile on her face
Touch
A distinguishing style;
This room needs a woman's touch
Touch
The act of putting two things together with no space between them;
At his touch the room filled with lights
Touch
A slight but appreciable addition;
This dish could use a touch of garlic
Touch
A communicative interaction;
The pilot made contact with the base
He got in touch with his colleagues
Touch
A slight attack of illness;
He has a touch of rheumatism
Touch
The act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan);
He watched the beggar trying to make a touch
Touch
The sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin;
She likes the touch of silk on her skin
The surface had a greasy feeling
Touch
Deftness in handling matters;
He has a master's touch
Touch
The feel of mechanical action;
This piano has a wonderful touch
Touch
Make physical contact with, come in contact with;
Touch the stone for good luck
She never touched her husband
Touch
Perceive via the tactile sense;
Helen Keller felt the physical world by touching people and objects around her
Touch
Affect emotionally;
A stirring movie
I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy
Touch
Have to do with or be relevant to;
There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
Touch
Be in direct physical contact with; make contact;
The two buildings touch
Their hands touched
The wire must not contact the metal cover
The surfaces contact at this point
Touch
Have an effect upon;
Will the new rules affect me?
Touch
Deal with; usually used with a form of negation;
I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole
The local Mafia won't touch gambling
Touch
Cause to be in brief contact with;
He touched his toes to the horse's flanks
Touch
To extend as far as;
The sunlight reached the wall
Can he reach?
The chair must not touch the wall
Touch
Be equal to in quality or ability;
Nothing can rival cotton for durability
Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
Touch
Tamper with;
Don't touch my CDs!
Touch
Make a more or less disguised reference to;
He alluded to the problem but did not mention it
Touch
Comprehend;
He could not touch the meaning of the poem
Touch
Consume;
She didn't touch her food all night
Touch
Dye with a color
Common Curiosities
Can the intensity of a hit vary?
Yes, the intensity of a hit can vary widely, from a light tap meant to attract attention to a powerful strike intended to cause harm or achieve a specific physical outcome.
How do touch and hit impact relationships?
Positive touches can strengthen relationships through comfort and affection, while hits, unless in a mutually understood context like sports, can cause harm or strain relationships.
How does context affect the interpretation of touch and hit?
Context greatly influences interpretation; a touch can be comforting or invasive, and a hit can be aggressive or playful, depending on the situation and relationship between the parties involved.
Do touch and hit only apply to physical interactions?
While primarily describing physical actions, both terms are also used metaphorically to describe emotional effects or the impact of events and information.
What role does consent play in distinguishing between touch and hit?
Consent is crucial; a consensual touch can be positive and affirming, while a hit, particularly without consent, is likely to be seen as aggressive and violating.
Is hitting always negative?
Although often negative, hitting can be neutral or positive in some contexts, like sports or certain forms of discipline, where it's understood within agreed boundaries.
What is the main difference between touch and hit?
Touch is a gentle contact often associated with positive intentions, while hit is a forceful contact usually with negative connotations or aggressive intent.
Can touch ever be negative?
While typically positive, touch can be negative if it's unwanted or intrusive, emphasizing the importance of context and consent.
Can the same action be both a touch and a hit?
The distinction often lies in the intention and perception; what one person perceives as a playful hit, another might see as an aggressive touch, underscoring the subjective nature of these interactions.
Are there cultural differences in interpreting touch and hit?
Yes, cultural norms significantly influence how touch and hit are perceived and accepted, with some cultures placing more emphasis on personal space and the implications of physical contact.
How do emotions play a role in touch and hit?
Emotions significantly influence both actions; touch is often driven by affection, care, or the desire to comfort, while hit is typically motivated by anger, aggression, or the intent to assert power.
What historical context do touch and hit have?
Historically, both actions have been significant in human and animal interactions, from the development of social bonds through touch to the use of force signified by hitting in conflict.
How do touch and hit affect personal space?
Touch can either be an invasion of personal space or a welcome connection, while hitting is often a clear violation of personal boundaries.
Can animals understand the difference between touch and hit?
Yes, many animals can distinguish between gentle touches and aggressive hits, responding differently based on the nature of the contact and their relationship with the individual.
How is touch used therapeutically?
Therapeutic touch is used in various healing practices to comfort, reduce stress, and promote well-being through gentle, intentional contact.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
