Touch Is Several Senses, Not One
Touch is the sense of physical contact. Skin actually contains separate receptors for pressure, temperature, pain and vibration.
Touch is the sense by which physical contact is perceived, and to touch is to make that contact. What we call one sense is really several systems: skin holds distinct receptors for light pressure, deep pressure, vibration, stretch, temperature and pain, each with its own nerve pathway. Merkel cells detect fine detail, Pacinian corpuscles detect vibration, and free nerve endings detect damage. A *touching* story moves you, and *keep in touch* uses contact as a metaphor for connection.
- Physical contact. *A gentle touch.*
- To make contact. *Touch the surface.*
- A small amount. *A touch of salt.*
- Touching — emotionally moving. *A touching gesture.*
- Old French — *tochier*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | touch | Touch it. |
| Past | touched | Touched. |
| Noun | touch | A touch. |
| Adjective | touching | Touching. |
| Adjective | touchy | Touchy. |
- Do not touch the paint.Contact.
- Add a touch of pepper.Quantity.
- It was a touching speech.Emotion.
The receptors in skin
- Merkel cells — fine detail and texture
- Meissner corpuscles — light touch and slippage
- Pacinian corpuscles — vibration and deep pressure
- Ruffini endings — skin stretch
- Free nerve endings — temperature and pain
Old French *tochier*, to touch or hit, from Vulgar Latin *toccare*, probably imitative of a knock.
Is touch really one sense?
No. Skin contains separate receptor types for pressure, vibration, stretch, temperature and pain, each with its own nerve pathway.
Why does touching mean moving?
From the metaphor of something reaching and affecting you emotionally, as a physical touch reaches the body.