retouch

re·touch
R1E1T1O1U1C3H4
/ɹɪˈtʌtʃ//ˈɹiːtʌtʃ/

verb

To improve something (especially a photograph), by adding or correcting details, or by removing flaws.

Similar
touch up
OriginFrench retoucher →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

verbretouch (third-person singular simple present retouches, present participle retouching, simple past and past participle retouched)

present singular third person retouches · participle present retouching · participle past retouched · past retouched

  1. transitiveTo improve something (especially a photograph), by adding or correcting details, or by removing flaws.

    For time ſhall with his ready pencil ſtand; Retouch your figures with his ripening hand; Mellow your colors, and imbrown the teint; Add every grace, which time alone can grant; To future ages ſhall your fame convey, And give more beauties than he takes away.

    a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “Epistle the Fourteenth. To Sir Godfrey Kneller, Principal Painter to His Majesty.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume II, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 201
  2. transitiveTo colour the roots of hair to match hair previously coloured.
  3. archaeologyTo modify a flint tool by making secondary flaking along the cutting edge.
nounretouch (plural retouches)

plural retouches

  1. The act of retouching (in any sense).

Synonyms & antonyms

verbalter so as to produce a more desirable appearance

Similar
touch up
Broader
enhance
Also see
edittouch up

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchretoucher
  2. Englishretouch

From French retoucher.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian ретуширам, ретуширане
  • ретуширам (retuširam)to improve something, especially a photograph
  • ретуширане (retuširane)act of retouching
Catalan retoc
  • retocact of retouching
Czech retušovat
  • retušovatto improve something, especially a photograph
Dutch retoucheren
  • retoucherento improve something, especially a photograph
German retuschieren, Retusche
  • retuschierento improve something, especially a photograph
  • Retuscheact of retouching
Hungarian retusál
  • retusálto improve something, especially a photograph
Italian ritoccare
  • ritoccareto improve something, especially a photograph
Japanese レタッチ
  • レタッチ (retatchi)act of retouching
Korean 리터치
  • 리터치 (riteochi)act of retouching
Polish retuszować, retusz
  • retuszowaćto improve something, especially a photograph
  • retuszact of retouching
Portuguese retocar, retoque
  • retocarto improve something, especially a photograph
  • retoqueact of retouching
Russian ретуши́ровать, ре́тушь
  • ретуши́ровать (retušírovatʹ)to improve something, especially a photograph
  • ре́тушь (rétušʹ)act of retouching
Swedish retuschera
  • retuscherato improve something, especially a photograph

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with retouch

suchtouchclutchhutchinasmuchcrutchmutchdeclutchgrutchnuchrutchscutchthrutch
All rhymes →

Anagrams

toucherhectour
Cite this entry
APA

retouch. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retouch

MLA

“retouch.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retouch. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retouch,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retouch.

Source: retouch on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.