To be in touch

Touch \Touch\, n. [Cf. F. touche. See {Touch}, v. ]
   1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched;
      contact.
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            Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting.
                                                  --Shak.
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   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}.
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            The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. --Pope.
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   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.
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   3. Act or power of exciting emotion.
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            Not alone
            The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
            Do strongly speak to us.              --Shak.
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   4. An emotion or affection.
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            A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy.
                                                  --Hooker.
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   5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.]
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            Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly
            used.                                 --Bacon.
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   6. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch; hence,
      animadversion; censure; reproof.
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            I never bare any touch of conscience with greater
            regret.                               --Eikon
                                                  Basilike.
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   7. A single stroke on a drawing or a picture.
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            Never give the least touch with your pencil till you
            have well examined your design.       --Dryden.
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   8. Feature; lineament; trait.
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            Of many faces, eyes, and hearts,
            To have the touches dearest prized.   --Shak.
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   9. The act of the hand on a musical instrument; bence, in the
      plural, musical notes.
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            Soft stillness and the night
            Become the touches of sweet harmony.  --Shak.
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   10. A small quantity intermixed; a little; a dash.
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             Eyes La touch of Sir Peter Lely in them. --Hazlitt.
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             Madam, I have a touch of your condition. --Shak.
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   11. A hint; a suggestion; slight notice.
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             A small touch will put him in mind of them.
                                                  --Bacon.
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   12. A slight and brief essay. [Colloq.]
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             Print my preface in such form as, in the
             booksellers' phrase, will make a sixpenny touch.
                                                  --Swift.
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   13. A touchstone; hence, stone of the sort used for
       touchstone. [Obs.] " Now do I play the touch." --Shak.
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             A neat new monument of touch and alabaster.
                                                  --Fuller.
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   14. Hence, examination or trial by some decisive standard;
       test; proof; tried quality.
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             Equity, the true touch of all laws.  --Carew.
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             Friends of noble touch .             --Shak.
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   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.
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   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.
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   17. (Football) That part of the field which is beyond the
       line of flags on either side. --Encyc. of Rural Sports.
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   18. A boys' game; tag.
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   19. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total
       possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040.
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   20. An act of borrowing or stealing. [Slang]
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   21. Tallow; -- a plumber's term. [Eng.]
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   {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.
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                 My mind and senses keep touch and time. --Sir
                                                  W. Scott.
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       (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.]
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