Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

to|tem /toʊ təm/ (totems )

1 N‑COUNT In some societies, a family's totem is the particular animal, plant, or natural object which they regard as a special symbol and which they believe has spiritual significance.

2 N‑COUNT Something that is a totem of another thing is a symbol of it. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] This opera is one of the cultural totems of Western civilisation.

to |tem pole (totem poles ) N‑COUNT A totem pole is a long wooden pole with symbols and pictures carved and painted on it. Totem poles are made by some Native American peoples and placed outside their homes.

totes /toʊ ts/ ADV Totes is a written and spoken abbreviation for 'totally'. [INFORMAL ] □  You are, like, totes amazing!

tot|ter /tɒ tə ^r / (totters , tottering , tottered )

1 VERB If someone totters somewhere, they walk there in an unsteady way, for example because they are ill or drunk. □ [V prep/adv] He tottered to the fridge, got a drink and slumped at the table.

2 VERB If something such as a market or government is tottering , it is weak and likely to collapse or fail completely. □ [V ] The property market is tottering. □ [V -ing] …further criticism of the tottering government.

tou|can /tuː kən, [AM ] -kæn/ (toucans ) N‑COUNT A toucan is a South American bird with a large brightly-coloured beak.

touch ◆◆◇ /tʌ tʃ/ (touches , touching , touched )

1 VERB If you touch something, you put your hand onto it in order to feel it or to make contact with it. □ [V n] Her tiny hands gently touched my face. □ [V -ing] The virus is not passed on through touching or shaking hands. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Touch is also a noun. □  Sometimes even a light touch on the face is enough to trigger off this pain.

2 VERB If two things are touching , or if one thing touches another, or if you touch two things, their surfaces come into contact with each other. □ [V ] Their knees were touching. □ [V n + with ] A cyclist crashed when he touched wheels with another rider. □ [V n] If my arm touches the wall, it has to be washed again. □ [V n] In some countries people stand close enough to touch elbows. □ [V n + with ] He touched the cow's side with his stick.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Your sense of touch is your ability to tell what something is like when you feel it with your hands. □  The evidence suggests that our sense of touch is programmed to diminish with age.

4 VERB To touch something means to strike it, usually quite gently. □ [V n] As the aeroplane went down the runway, the wing touched a pile of rubble.

5 VERB [usu passive] If something has not been touched , nobody has dealt with it or taken care of it. □ [be V -ed] When John began to restore the house, nothing had been touched for 40 years.

6 VERB If you say that you did not touch someone or something, you are emphasizing that you did not attack, harm, or destroy them, especially when you have been accused of doing so. [EMPHASIS ] □ [V n] Pearce remained adamant, saying 'I didn't touch him'. □ [V n] I was in the garden. I never touched the sandwiches.

7 VERB [no passive] You say that you never touch something or that you have not touched something for a long time to emphasize that you never use it, or you have not used it for a long time. [EMPHASIS ] □ [V n] I never touch chocolate, it gives me spots.

8 VERB If you touch on a particular subject or problem, you mention it or write briefly about it. □ [V + on/upon ] The film touches on these issues, but only superficially.

9 VERB If something touches you, it affects you in some way for a short time. □ [V n] …a guilt that in some sense touches everyone.