Touch most commonly denotes the bodily sense that detects pressure, temperature and texture; this primary meaning is discussed at touch (sense). Beyond the biological sense, the word "touch" appears across technology, culture, sport and everyday speech with a variety of related meanings.
Physical contact and perception
As a noun or verb, touch can mean any act of physical contact between objects or people, or the quality of tactile sensation. In everyday language it also describes emotional or stylistic subtlety (for example, a "touch" of color) and precise contact in geometry, where two shapes meet at a point (tangency).
Technology and computing
In computing and consumer electronics, touch relates to user input and file utilities. Common senses include touchscreen and touchpad interfaces that respond to a fingertip or stylus, and multitouch gestures that use more than one finger. Separately, the command-line utility touch is widely known for creating empty files or updating file timestamps on Unix-like systems.
Arts, media and titles
Many creative works are titled "Touch," including albums, songs, films, books and magazines. Musicians and bands have released albums or tracks named "Touch," and the term is frequently chosen for its concise emotional resonance. Film and television sometimes use it as a title or episode name.
Sports, games and other uses
In sport and play, "touch" can refer to non‑contact versions of football (often called touch football or touch rugby), the act of tagging an opponent, or a scoring/contact element in games. It also appears in company and product names and as a metaphor in many idioms.
This disambiguation summarizes common uses; when looking for a specific article or meaning, consult the topic area above for more focused information.