tocar

v.

1 to touch (entrar en contacto con).

Ella toca su mano She touches his hand.

Ese dolor lo tocó muy profundamente That pain touched him very deeply.

2 to play (hacer sonar) (instrumento, canción).

el reloj tocó las doce the clock struck twelve

Ella toca bellísimo She plays beautifully.

Toca el piano! Play the piano!

3 to touch on (abordar) (tema).

no toques ese tema don't mention that subject

4 to touch.

5 to be supposed to, to have to, to have the obligation of, to have the obligation to.

Me toca hacer esto I am supposed to do this=have to do this.

6 to touch upon, to make reference to, to get on to.

Ellos tocaron el tema They touched upon the subject.

7 to be in for.

Le toca un escarmiento He is in for a lesson.

8 to be time to.

Toca ir al doctor It is time to go to the doctor.

9 to be ringing, to ring.

Tocan las campanas The bells are ringing.

10 to knock, to knock at the door.

Ella toca pero no le abren She knocks but no-one opens.

11 to be one's turn to.

Me toca jugar It's my turn to play.

12 to reproduce, to replay, to play.

Ellos reproducen la cinta They play the cassette.

13 to clang.

María hizo sonar la campMaría Mary clanged the bell.

14 to feel.

El médico toca su piel The doctor feels her skin.

15 to bunt.

* * *

tocar

► verbo transitivo

1 (gen) to touch

■ no tocar la mercancía do not handle the goods

2 (sentir por el tacto) to feel

■ tócalo, está frío feel it, it's cold

3 (revolver) to rummage amongst, root around

■ no toques mis papeles leave my papers alone

4 (hacer sonar - instrumento, canción) to play; (timbre) to ring; (bocina) to blow, honk; (campanas) to strike

5 figurado (retocar) to change, alter

■ no toques más la redacción don't do anything else to your essay

6 (la hora) to strike

7 MILITAR (diana) to sound

8 DEPORTE (diana) to hit; (esgrima) to touch

9 figurado (mencionar) to touch on

10 figurado (impresionar) to touch, reach

■ me tocó el corazón he touched my heart

► verbo intransitivo

1 (ser el turno) to be one's turn

■ le toca a él it's his turn

2 (corresponder) to be up to

■ le toca a él explicarse it's up to him to explain himself

3 (ganar) to win

■ nos tocó un premio we won a prize

4 (en un reparto etc) to fall

■ me tocó a mí hablarle it fell to me to speak to him

5 (un destino) to be posted

■ le tocó en Cartagena he was posted to Cartagena

6 (tener que) to have to

■ nos tocó llevarla we had to take her

7 (afectar) to concern, affect

■ le toca directamente it directly concerns you

8 (ser parientes) to be a relative of, be related

9 (barco, avión) to call (en, at), stop over (en, at)

10 (entrar en contacto) to touch

► verbo pronominal tocarse

1 (uso reflexivo) to touch oneself; (uso recíproco) to touch each other

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

por lo que a mí toca as far as I am concerned

tocar a muerto to toll

tocar a su fin figurado to be coming to an end

tocar con to be next to

■ toca con el cine it's next to the cinema

tocar en figurado to border on, verge on

■ sus palabras tocan en grosería his words are verging on rudeness

tocarse la nariz to pick one's nose

————————

tocar

► verbo transitivo

1 (peinar) to do the hair of

► verbo pronominal

1 (cubrirse) to cover one's head

* * *

verb

1) to touch

2) feel

3) play

4) ring, knock

5) concern, affect

•

- tocarle a

* * *

1. VT

1) [gen] to touch; [para examinar] to feel

si lo tocas te vas a quemar — if you touch it you'll burn yourself

¡no me toques! — don't touch me!

que nadie toque mis papeles — don't let anyone touch my papers

no toques el dinero como no sea para una emergencia — don't touch the money unless it's an emergency

tócalo, verás qué suave — feel it and see how soft it is

tócale la frente, la tiene muy caliente — feel his forehead, it's very hot

no toques la mercancía sin guantes — don't handle the goods without gloves

el delantero tocó la pelota con la mano — the forward handled (the ball)

- tocar madera

2) (=estar en contacto con) to touch

la mesa está tocando la pared — the table is touching the wall

ponte ahí, tocando la pared — stand up against the wall over there

• tocar tierra — to touch down, land

3) (=hacer sonar) [+ piano, violín, trompeta] to play; [+ campana, timbre] to ring; [+ tambor] to beat; [+ silbato] to blow; [+ disco] to play

el reloj de la iglesia ha tocado las diez — the church clock has just struck ten

• tocar la bocina o el claxon — to hoot o sound one's horn

• tocar la generala — (Mil) to sound the call to arms

• tocar la retirada — to sound the retreat

4) [+ tema] to refer to, touch on

no tocó para nada esa cuestión — he didn't refer to o touch on that matter at all

prefiero no tocar lo relacionado con el trabajo — I'd prefer not to talk about work

5) (=afectar) to concern

esa cuestión me toca de cerca — that issue closely concerns me

por lo que a mí me toca — so far as I am concerned

6) (=estar emparentado con) to be related to

a mí Juan no me toca nada — Juan is not related to me in any way

7) (=conmover) to touch

las imágenes me tocaron en lo más profundo — the pictures moved o touched me deeply

el poema nos tocó el corazón — the poem touched our hearts

me has tocado el amor propio — you've wounded my pride

8) (Dep) to hit

el balón tocó el palo — the ball hit the post

9) (Náut)

hacía varios días que no tocábamos puerto — it was several days since we had called at o put in at a port

en este crucero tocaremos el puerto de Génova — on this cruise we will call o stop at Genoa

10) (Caza) to hit

11) (Arte) to touch up

2. VI

1) (Mús) to play

toca en un grupo de rock — he's in o he plays in a rock group

2) (=sonar)

en cuanto toque el timbre — when the bell rings

tocan a misa — they are ringing the bell for mass

tocar a muerto — to toll the death knell

3) (=llamar)

tocar a una puerta — to knock on o at a door

4) (=corresponder)

no toca hacerlo hasta el mes que viene — it's not due to be done until next month

ahora toca torcer a la derecha — now you have to turn right

tocar a algn: les tocó un dólar a cada uno — they got a dollar each

¿les tocará algo de herencia? — will they get anything under the will?

me ha tocado el peor asiento — I ended up with o got the worst seat

le tocó la lotería — he won the lottery

¿a quién le toca? — whose turn is it?

• tocar a algn hacer algo, te toca jugar — it's your turn (to play), it's your go

nos toca pagar a nosotros — it's our turn to pay

siempre me toca fregar a mí — I'm always the one who has to do the dishes

a usted le toca reprenderle si lo cree conveniente — it is up to you to reprimand him if you see fit

- ¡a pagar tocan!

5) (=rayar)

• tocar en algo — to border on sth, verge on sth

esto toca en lo absurdo — this borders o verges on the ridiculous

su conducta toca en locura — his behaviour borders o verges on madness

6) (=chocar)

• tocar con algo — to touch sth

7)

• tocar a su fin — to be drawing to a close

el verano tocaba a su fin — summer was drawing to a close

3.

See:

tocarse

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

Sentido I

1)

a) persona to touch; (palpar) to feel; (manosear) to handle

no vayas a tocar ese cable! — don't touch that cable!

si le toca un pelo al niño ... — if he lays a hand o finger on that child ...

no ha tocado los libros — he hasn't opened the books

no puede tocar el alcohol — he mustn't touch a drop of alcohol

mis ahorros no los quiero tocar — I don't want to touch my savings

a los hijos no se los toques — don't say a word against her children

b) (entrar en contacto con) to touch

la planta ya toca el techo — the plant is already touching the ceiling

la pelota tocó la red — the ball clipped the net

el avión tocó tierra — the plane touched down

2) (Aviac) to make a stopover in; (Náut) to put in

no toca puerto en Lisboa — it doesn't call at Lisbon

3) (en béisbol) to bunt

4) <tema> (tratar) to touch on, refer to; (sacar) to bring up

5)

a) (conmover, impresionar) to touch

tu comentario tocó su amor propio — your comment hurt his pride

b) (atañer, concernir) to affect

un problema que nos toca de cerca — a problem which affects us directly

que ese tema no me toca en lo más mínimo — that subject doesn't concern me at all

c) (Esp fam) (estar emparentado con)

¿Victoria te toca algo? — is Victoria related to you?

Sentido II

6)

a) (hacer sonar) <timbre/campana> to ring; <claxon> to blow, sound

b) (Mús) <instrumento/pieza> to play

2.

tocar vi

Sentido I

1) (concernir)

por or en lo que toca a la ecología — (frml) as far as ecology is concerned

2) (rayar)

tocar EN algo — to border o verge on something

Sentido II

3)

a) (AmL) (llamar) persona to knock at the door

alguien está tocando (a la puerta) — there's somebody at the door

b) campana/timbre to ring

las campanas tocaban a misa — the bells were ringing for mass

tocar a rebato/a retirada — (Mil) to sound the alarm/the retreat

c) (Mús) (hacer música) to play

Sentido III

4)

a) (corresponder en reparto, concurso, sorteo) (+ me/te/le etc)

a ella le toca la mitad de la herencia — she gets half of the inheritance

le tocó el primer premio — she won the first prize

nos tocó (en suerte) — it fell to our lot

me tocó la maestra más antipática del colegio — I got the most horrible teacher in the school

nos tocó hacer la práctica en el mismo colegio — we happened to do our teaching practice at the same school

me tocó a mí comunicárselo — I was the one who had to tell him

b) (ser el turno) (+ me/te/le etc)

te toca a ti — it's your turn

¿a quién le toca cocinar? — whose turn is it to do the cooking?

5) (en 3^a pers) (fam)

vamos, toca ponerse a estudiar — come on, it's time we/you got down to some studying

mañana toca historia — we've got history tomorrow

3.

tocarse v pron

a) (refl) <herida/grano> to touch

siempre se toca la barba/la nariz — he always plays with his beard/touches his nose

b) (recípr) personas to touch each other; cables to touch

* * *

= touch, play, lay + a finger on.

Ex. He repeatedly comments on my appearance, makes sexual innuendoes, and touches me.

Ex. In another style of lesson, the book is approached through film clips, dramatizations on TV, or played on records or tapes made commercially.

Ex. That's why he's in prison for the rest of his life when he never laid a finger on the victims -- he was the general who ordered his troops into battle.

----

* dejar sin tocar = leave + Nombre + alone, leave + Nombre + undisturbed.

* en lo que toca a = as far as + Nombre + be + concerned.

* eso es lo que toca = that's + Posesivo + lot (in life).

* no tocar = hands off, leave + Nombre + alone, leave + Nombre + undisturbed.

* que toca aquí y allá = wandering.

* sin tocar = untouched.

* tocar a muerto = sound + the death knell for.

* tocar a su fin = draw to + a close, draw to + an end, wind down.

* tocar con arco = bowing.

* tocar de refilón = brush past.

* tocar distraídamente = finger.

* tocar donde duele = touch on + raw nerve, touch on + a sore spot.

* tocar el claxon = honk.

* tocar fondo = hit + rock-bottom, reach + rock-bottom, bottom out, touch + rock bottom, strike + bottom.

* tocar juntos = play along with.

* tocar la bocina = honk.

* tocar la fibra sensible de = strike + a chord with.

* tocar la lotería = win + the lottery.

* tocar las pelotas = piss + Nombre + off.

* tocarle un pelo a = lay + a finger on.

* tocar ligeramente = skim + the surface of, stroke, brush past, tip.

* tocar ligeramente con el codo = nudge.

* tocar los cojones = piss + Nombre + off.

* tocar los huevos = piss + Nombre + off.

* tocar música = play + music.

* tocar una cuestión = touch on/upon + issue.

* tocar una vena sensible = hit + home.

* tocar un instrumento musical = play + instrument.

* tocar un problema = touch on/upon + problem.

* tocar un punto = touch on + a point.

* tocar un tema = touch on + a point.

* todo lo que toca se convierte en oro = Midas touch, the.

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

Sentido I

1)

a) persona to touch; (palpar) to feel; (manosear) to handle

no vayas a tocar ese cable! — don't touch that cable!

si le toca un pelo al niño ... — if he lays a hand o finger on that child ...

no ha tocado los libros — he hasn't opened the books

no puede tocar el alcohol — he mustn't touch a drop of alcohol

mis ahorros no los quiero tocar — I don't want to touch my savings

a los hijos no se los toques — don't say a word against her children

b) (entrar en contacto con) to touch

la planta ya toca el techo — the plant is already touching the ceiling

la pelota tocó la red — the ball clipped the net

el avión tocó tierra — the plane touched down

2) (Aviac) to make a stopover in; (Náut) to put in

no toca puerto en Lisboa — it doesn't call at Lisbon

3) (en béisbol) to bunt

4) <tema> (tratar) to touch on, refer to; (sacar) to bring up

5)

a) (conmover, impresionar) to touch

tu comentario tocó su amor propio — your comment hurt his pride

b) (atañer, concernir) to affect

un problema que nos toca de cerca — a problem which affects us directly

que ese tema no me toca en lo más mínimo — that subject doesn't concern me at all

c) (Esp fam) (estar emparentado con)

¿Victoria te toca algo? — is Victoria related to you?

Sentido II

6)

a) (hacer sonar) <timbre/campana> to ring; <claxon> to blow, sound

b) (Mús) <instrumento/pieza> to play

2.

tocar vi

Sentido I

1) (concernir)

por or en lo que toca a la ecología — (frml) as far as ecology is concerned

2) (rayar)

tocar EN algo — to border o verge on something

Sentido II

3)

a) (AmL) (llamar) persona to knock at the door

alguien está tocando (a la puerta) — there's somebody at the door

b) campana/timbre to ring

las campanas tocaban a misa — the bells were ringing for mass

tocar a rebato/a retirada — (Mil) to sound the alarm/the retreat

c) (Mús) (hacer música) to play

Sentido III

4)

a) (corresponder en reparto, concurso, sorteo) (+ me/te/le etc)

a ella le toca la mitad de la herencia — she gets half of the inheritance

le tocó el primer premio — she won the first prize

nos tocó (en suerte) — it fell to our lot

me tocó la maestra más antipática del colegio — I got the most horrible teacher in the school

nos tocó hacer la práctica en el mismo colegio — we happened to do our teaching practice at the same school

me tocó a mí comunicárselo — I was the one who had to tell him

b) (ser el turno) (+ me/te/le etc)

te toca a ti — it's your turn

¿a quién le toca cocinar? — whose turn is it to do the cooking?

5) (en 3^a pers) (fam)

vamos, toca ponerse a estudiar — come on, it's time we/you got down to some studying

mañana toca historia — we've got history tomorrow

3.

tocarse v pron

a) (refl) <herida/grano> to touch

siempre se toca la barba/la nariz — he always plays with his beard/touches his nose

b) (recípr) personas to touch each other; cables to touch

* * *

= touch, play, lay + a finger on.

Ex: He repeatedly comments on my appearance, makes sexual innuendoes, and touches me.

Ex: In another style of lesson, the book is approached through film clips, dramatizations on TV, or played on records or tapes made commercially.

Ex: That's why he's in prison for the rest of his life when he never laid a finger on the victims -- he was the general who ordered his troops into battle.

* dejar sin tocar = leave + Nombre + alone, leave + Nombre + undisturbed.

* en lo que toca a = as far as + Nombre + be + concerned.

* eso es lo que toca = that's + Posesivo + lot (in life).

* no tocar = hands off, leave + Nombre + alone, leave + Nombre + undisturbed.

* que toca aquí y allá = wandering.

* sin tocar = untouched.

* tocar a muerto = sound + the death knell for.

* tocar a su fin = draw to + a close, draw to + an end, wind down.

* tocar con arco = bowing.

* tocar de refilón = brush past.

* tocar distraídamente = finger.

* tocar donde duele = touch on + raw nerve, touch on + a sore spot.

* tocar el claxon = honk.

* tocar fondo = hit + rock-bottom, reach + rock-bottom, bottom out, touch + rock bottom, strike + bottom.

* tocar juntos = play along with.

* tocar la bocina = honk.

* tocar la fibra sensible de = strike + a chord with.

* tocar la lotería = win + the lottery.

* tocar las pelotas = piss + Nombre + off.

* tocarle un pelo a = lay + a finger on.

* tocar ligeramente = skim + the surface of, stroke, brush past, tip.

* tocar ligeramente con el codo = nudge.

* tocar los cojones = piss + Nombre + off.

* tocar los huevos = piss + Nombre + off.

* tocar música = play + music.

* tocar una cuestión = touch on/upon + issue.

* tocar una vena sensible = hit + home.

* tocar un instrumento musical = play + instrument.

* tocar un problema = touch on/upon + problem.

* tocar un punto = touch on + a point.

* tocar un tema = touch on + a point.

* todo lo que toca se convierte en oro = Midas touch, the.

* * *

tocar [A2 ]

vt

Sentido I

A

1 «persona» to touch; (palpar) to feel; (manosear) to handle

¿puedes tocar el techo? can you touch o reach the ceiling?

¡no vayas a tocar ese cable! don't touch that cable!

por favor, no toquen los objetos expuestos please do not touch the exhibits

la pelota tocó (la) red the ball clipped the net

me tocó el hombro con el bastón she tapped me on the shoulder with her stick

le tocó la frente para ver si tenía fiebre he put his hand on her forehead to see if she had a fever

¿por qué le pegaste? — ¡pero si yo no la he tocado! why did you hit her? — I never touched her! (colloq)

¿tocas fondo? can you touch the bottom?

si le toca un pelo al niño … if he lays a hand o finger on that child …, if he touches a hair on that child's head … (colloq)

no puede tocar el alcohol he mustn't touch a drop of alcohol

ni siquiera tocó la comida he didn't even touch his food

no me toquen estos papeles don't touch these papers

mis ahorros no los quiero tocar I don't want to break into/touch my savings

del marido puedes decir lo que quieras pero a los hijos no se los toques you can say anything you like about her husband but don't say a word against her children

2 «objeto» to touch

la cama está tocando la pared the bed is up against o is touching the wall

la planta ya toca el techo the plant is already up to o is touching the ceiling

el avión tocó tierra the plane landed o touched down

B (hacer escala en) (Aviac) to make a stopover in, go via

no toca puerto en Lisboa (Náut) it doesn't call at o put in at Lisbon

C (en béisbol) to bunt

D ‹tema› (tratar) to touch on, refer to; (sacar) to bring up, broach

sólo tocó de paso el tema he only touched on o mentioned the subject in passing

E

1 (conmover, impresionar) to touch

sus palabras nos tocaron a todos profundamente his words moved us all deeply o affected us all profoundly, we were all deeply touched by his words

tu comentario tocó su amor propio your comment hurt his pride

supo tocar el corazón del público presente he touched the hearts of all those present

2 (atañer, concernir) to affect

el problema de la droga toca a muchos países the drug problem affects many countries

no siento que ese tema me toque en lo más mínimo I don't feel that subject concerns me at all

el tema del alcoholismo me toca muy de cerca the question of alcoholism concerns me very closely o is very close to my heart

3

(Esp fam) (estar emparentado con): ¿Victoria te toca algo? is Victoria a relation of yours?, is Victoria related to you?

Sentido II

A (hacer sonar) ‹timbre/campana› to ring

tocar el claxon to blow o sound o hoot the horn

B (Mús) ‹instrumento/pieza› to play

está aprendiendo a tocar el piano he's learning to play the piano

C (Mil) to sound

tocar retirada to sound the retreat

■ tocar

vi

Sentido I

A

(concernir): por or en lo que toca a la ecología (frml); as far as ecology is concerned, regarding ecology, with regard to ecology

B (rayar) tocar EN algo to border o verge ON sth

la situación ya empezaba a tocar en lo grotesco by this time the situation was bordering o verging on the grotesque

Sentido II

A (AmL) (llamar) «persona» to knock at the door

me parece que alguien está tocando (a la puerta) I think there's somebody at the door

B «campana» to ring

las campanas tocaban a muerto/a misa the bells were tolling the death knell/were ringing for mass

¿podemos salir a jugar? ya ha tocado el timbre can we go out to play? the bell rang already (AmE) o (BrE) the bell's already gone

el reloj tocó las tres the clock struck o chimed three

tocar a rebato (Mil) to sound the alarm

C (Mús) (hacer música) to play

Sentido III

A

1 (corresponder) (+ me/te/le etc):

me tocaría a mí ocuparme de los niños it would be up to me o it would be my job to take care of the children

siempre me toca a mí sacar al perro it's always me who has to take the dog out for a walk

nos tocan tres bombones a cada uno there are three chocolates for each of us

a ella le toca la mitad de la herencia she gets half of the inheritance

2 (en suerte) (+ me/te/le etc):

le ha tocado la lotería/el primer premio/un millón she has won the lottery/first prize/a million

nos ha tocado (en suerte) vivir en épocas difíciles it has fallen to our lot to live in difficult times

nos tocó la maestra más antipática del colegio we got the most horrible teacher in the school

nos tocó hacer las prácticas en el mismo colegio we happened to do our teaching practice at the same school

me tocó a mí comunicarle la mala noticia I was the one who had to tell him the bad news, it fell to me to tell him the bad news (frml)

me tocó detrás de una columna y no vi casi nada I had to sit behind a pillar and I hardly saw anything

3 (ser el turno) (+ me/te/le etc):

te toca a ti ¿vas a jugar? it's your turn/move, are you going to play?

¿a quién le toca cocinar hoy? whose turn is it to do the cooking today?

nos toca pagar a nosotros it's our turn to pay

B (en tercera persona)

1 (fam)

(ser hora de): vamos, toca ponerse a estudiar come on, it's time we/you got down to some studying

¡a correr tocan! (fam); run for it!

¡a pagar tocan! (fam); it's time to pay up!

2 (fam)

(haber que): toca comer otra vez arroz we're having rice again

■ tocarse

v pron

A

1 (refl) ‹herida/grano› to touch

siempre se está tocando la barba/la nariz he's always playing with his beard/touching his nose

2 (recípr) «personas» to touch each other; «cables» to touch

los fondos de nuestras casas se tocan our garden backs onto theirs

los extremos se tocan the two extremes come together o meet

B (frml) (cubrirse la cabeza) tocarse CON algo to wear sth

la reina se tocaba con un sombrero azul the queen was wearing a blue hat

* * *

 

tocar (conjugate tocar) verbo transitivo
1

a) (en general) to touch;

(palpar) to feel;
(manosear) to handle;

◊ ¡no vayas a tocar ese cable! don't touch that cable!;

mis ahorros no los quiero tocar I don't want to touch my savings;
la planta ya toca el techo the plant is already touching the ceiling

b) (hacer sonar) ‹timbre/campana› to ring;

‹claxon› to blow, sound

c) (Mús) ‹instrumento/pieza› to play

2 ‹tema› (tratar) to touch on, refer to;
(sacar) to bring up
3 (atañer, concernir) to affect;

◊ un problema que nos toca de cerca a problem which affects us directly

verbo intransitivo
1

a) (AmL) (llamar) [persona] to knock at the door;

◊ alguien está tocando (a la puerta) there's somebody at the door

b) [campana/timbre] to ring;

◊ las campanas tocaban a misa the bells were ringing for mass

c) (Mús) to play

2

a) (corresponder en reparto, concurso, sorteo):

◊ a ella le toca la mitad de la herencia she gets half of the inheritance;

le tocó el primer premio she won the first prize;
me tocó la maestra más antipática del colegio I got the most horrible teacher in the school

b) (ser el turno):

◊ te toca a ti it's your turn;

¿a quién le toca cocinar? whose turn is it to do the cooking?
tocarse verbo pronominal

a) (refl) ‹herida/grano› to touch;

‹barba› to play with

b) (recípr) [personas] to touch each other;

[cables] to touch
tocar
I verbo transitivo
1 (entrar en contacto) to touch: el avión toca tierra, the airplane touches down
(a una persona) to touch
(manipular, manejar) to handle
(sentir al tacto) to feel
(mover, desordenar) yo no toqué tus papeles, I didn't touch your papers
2 (hacer alusión) to touch on
3 (un instrumento) to play: toca el violín, she plays the violin
4 (el timbre, la campana) to ring
II verbo intransitivo
1 (corresponder) a ti te toca decírselo, you're the one who has to tell him
los lunes te toca limpiar la casa, you have to clean the house on Mondays
(por turno) me toca, it's my turn
2 (en el juego, en un concurso) to win: le tocaron dos millones, he won two million pesetas
3 (afectar) to concern, affect
por lo que a ti te toca, as far as you are concerned
4 (sonar) tocan las campanas, the bells are ringing
'tocar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
fondo
- pitar
- tacto
- timbre
- campana
- claxon
- destiempo
- gustar
- llamar
- madera
- oído
- palma
- pito
- rozar
- silbato
English:
beat
- blow
- bongo
- bottom out
- busk
- can
- dab
- disturb
- drum
- enjoy
- feel
- finger
- graze
- handle
- honk
- keep off
- lightly
- love
- meet
- paw
- play
- please
- replay
- ring
- sharp
- softly
- sound
- stop
- strike up
- thump out
- toll
- toot
- touch
- undisturbed
- clear
- ear
- goose
- hoot
- interfere
- jazz
- knock
- perform
- rock
- sight
- strike
- tamper with
- untouched

* * *

tocar

♦ vt

1. [entrar en contacto con, alterar] to touch;

[palpar] to feel;

por favor, no toquen las esculturas please do not touch the sculptures;

el médico le tocó el estómago the doctor felt her stomach;

yo no lo tocaría, así está muy bien I wouldn't touch a thing, it's fine as it is;

tócalo, verás qué suave es touch it and see how soft it is;

¡no se te ocurra tocar al niño! don't you dare lay a finger on the child!;

el corredor cayó al tocar la valla con un pie the athlete fell when his foot struck o clipped the hurdle;

el balón tocó el poste the ball touched o clipped the post;

no ha tocado la comida he hasn't touched his food;

¡esos libros, ni tocarlos! don't you go near those books!;

Comp

tocar madera to touch wood

2. [hacer sonar] [instrumento, canción] to play;

[bombo] to bang; [sirena, alarma] to sound; [campana, timbre] to ring; [bocina, claxon] to hoot, to toot; [silbato] to blow;

el reloj tocó las doce the clock struck twelve

3. [abordar] [asunto, tema] to touch on;

lo tocó por encima he touched on it briefly;

no toques ese tema don't mention that subject

4. [concernir]

por lo que a mí me toca as far as I'm concerned;

en o [m5]por lo que toca al asunto de los ascensos as far as the matter of promotions is concerned;

tocar a alguien de cerca to concern sb closely

5. [conmover] to touch;

la historia la tocó hondo the story touched her deeply

♦ vi

1. [entrar en contacto] to touch;

no tocar [en letrero] don't touch;

no tocar, alto voltaje [en letrero] high voltage: do not touch

2. [estar próximo]

tocar con algo [pared, mueble] to be touching sth;

[país, jardín] to border (on) sth;

la mesa toca con la pared the table is touching the wall;

nuestra casa toca con la suya our house is right next to theirs

3. [llamar]

tocar a la puerta/ventana to knock on o at the door/window

4. [campanas, timbre] to ring

5. [en un reparto]

tocar a alguien: le tocó la mitad he got half of it;

a ti te toca la casa you get the house;

a mí me toca fregar la cocina I've got to mop the kitchen;

tocamos a dos trozos cada uno there's enough for two slices each;

tocamos a mil cada uno [nos deben] we're due a thousand each;

[debemos] it's a thousand each;

te toca a ti hacerlo [turno] it's your turn to do it;

[responsabilidad] it's up to you to do it;

te toca tirar a ti [en juegos] it's your go;

¿a quién le toca? whose turn is it?

6. [caer en suerte]

me ha tocado la lotería/el gordo I've won the lottery/the jackpot;

me tocaron seis millones a o [m5]en la lotería I won six million in the lottery;

le ha tocado sufrir mucho he has had to suffer a lot

7. [llegar el momento]

hoy toca limpiar it's cleaning day today;

ahora toca divertirse now it's time to have some fun;

le toca dar a luz la semana que viene she's due to have the baby next week;

ya me toca ir al dentista it's time for me to go to the dentist;

¿cuándo te toca renovar el permiso? when do you have to renew your licence?;

Fam Hum

si te dicen que salgas, a salir tocan if they tell you to go out, then you'd better go out

8. [rayar]

tocar en algo to verge o border on sth;

eso ya toca en lo imaginario that's verging on the imaginary

♦ See also the pronominal verb tocarse

* * *

tocar

I v/t

1 touch;

tocar el corazón touch one’s heart;

tocar a alguien de cerca concern s.o. closely

2 MÚS play

II v/i

1 L.Am.

a la puerta knock (on the door); L.Am. (sonar la campanita) ring the doorbell;

las campanas de la iglesia tocaban a misa the church bells were ringing for mass;

tocar a muerto toll the death knell

2 (ser hora de)

:

ya toca dar de comer al bebé it’s time to feed the baby

3 (ser el turno de)

:

te toca jugar it’s your turn

4

:

por lo que toca a … as far as … is concerned

* * *

tocar {72} vt

1) : to touch, to feel, to handle

2) : to touch on, to refer to

3) : to concern, to affect

4) : to play (a musical instrument)

tocar vi

1) : to knock, to ring

tocar a la puerta: to rap on the door

2)

tocar en : to touch on, to border on

eso toca en lo ridículo: that's almost ludicrous

3)

tocarle a : to fall to, to be up to, to be one's turn

¿a quién le toca manejar?: whose turn is it to drive?

* * *

tocar vb

1. (en general) to touch

me tocó la mejilla he touched my cheek

2. (instrumento) to play

toca la guitarra he plays the guitar

3. (timbre, campana) to ring [pt. rang; pp. rung]

¿has tocado el timbre? have you rung the bell?

4. (bocina) to sound

tocaba la bocina he was sounding his horn

5. (corresponder hacer algo) to be your turn

¿a quién le toca ahora? whose turn is it now?

6. (un premio) to win [pt. & pp. won]

le tocó la lotería he won the lottery