verb (used with object)
- to improve with new touches, highlights, or the like; touch up or rework, as a painting or makeup.
- Photography. to alter (a negative or positive) after development by adding or removing lines, lightening areas, etc., with a pencil, brush, or knife.
- to dye, tint, or bleach (a new growth of hair) to match or blend with the color of an earlier and previously dyed growth.
noun
- an added touch to a picture, painting, paint job, etc., by way of improvement or alteration.
- an act or instance of dyeing new growth of hair to blend with previously dyed hair.
verb (tr)
- to restore, correct, or improve (a painting, make-up, etc) with new touches
- photog to alter (a negative or print) by painting over blemishes or adding details
- to make small finishing improvements to
- archaeol to detach small flakes from (a stone) in order to make a tool
noun
- the art or practice of retouching
- a detail that is the result of retouching
- a photograph, painting, etc, that has been retouched
- archaeol fine percussion to shape flakes of stone into usable tools
1640s, from French retoucher (13c.) “to touch again” (with a view to improving), from re- “again” (see re-) + toucher (see touch (v.)).