touch-up
|touch-up|
/ˈtʌtʃʌp/
(touch up)
make small improvements
Etymology
'touch-up' originates from the English words 'touch' + 'up'; 'touch' ultimately comes from Old French 'touchier' (from Vulgar Latin *toccare) where '*toccare' meant 'to strike' or 'to hit', and 'up' originates from Old English 'up' meaning 'upward' or 'in a higher position'.
'touch' changed from Old French 'touchier' to Middle English 'touchen' and later became modern English 'touch'; combined with the Old English particle 'up' the compound 'touch up' (and the noun 'touch-up') developed in modern English to denote small corrections or improvements.
Initially, 'touch' could mean 'to strike or make contact'; over time it acquired senses of affecting or altering slightly, and 'touch up' evolved to mean 'make small improvements' or 'retouch'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small repair or minor improvement made to restore appearance or function (often of paint, finish, or surface).
The car only needs a touch-up on the bumper.
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Noun 2
a minor cosmetic correction applied to someone's appearance (e.g., makeup or hair) before photos or public appearance.
She asked for a quick touch-up before the portrait was taken.
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Verb 1
to make small improvements or repairs to something to improve its appearance or condition.
Could you touch up the paint on this shelf?
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Verb 2
to retouch a photograph or image (digitally or by hand) to remove blemishes or improve appearance.
The editor will touch up the photo to remove stray hairs and blemishes.
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Last updated: 2025/09/18 22:40