retouch

[ verb ree-tuhch; noun ree-tuhch, ree-tuhch ]

verb (used with object)

1. to improve with new touches, highlights, or the like; touch up or rework, as a painting or makeup.
2. Photography. to alter (a negative or positive) after development by adding or removing lines, lightening areas, etc., with a pencil, brush, or knife.
3. 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

1. an added touch to a picture, painting, paint job, etc., by way of improvement or alteration.
2. an act or instance of dyeing new growth of hair to blend with previously dyed hair.

retouch

/ riːˈtʌtʃ /

verb

1. to restore, correct, or improve (a painting, make-up, etc) with new touches
2. photog to alter (a negative or print) by painting over blemishes or adding details
3. to make small finishing improvements to
4. archaeol to detach small flakes from (a stone) in order to make a tool

noun

1. the art or practice of retouching
2. a detail that is the result of retouching
3. a photograph, painting, etc, that has been retouched
4. archaeol fine percussion to shape flakes of stone into usable tools

Derived Forms

• reˈtoucher, noun
• reˈtouchable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·toucha·ble adjective
• re·toucher noun
• unre·touched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retouch¹

1675–85; < Middle French retoucher, equivalent to re- re- + toucher to touch

Example Sentences

There are retouches to the original tale, updates to conform to modern sensibilities and a few winking asides to the audience, but the basic recipe of a whodunit spoof is preserved.

From Los Angeles Times

The proud grandmother revealed that she told magazine staffers she did not want retouching done on her SI Swimsuit photos — even dishing that she had a cheeseburger the day before her shoot.

From Seattle Times

In her statement, the 42-year-old princess chalked up the alteration to a photographer’s innocent desire to retouch the image.

From New York Times

He also found scrapers and other retouched pieces known as Mousterian stone artifacts that suggested the cave had been used by Neanderthals.

From Science Daily

For teens, this seamless integration of celebrities and retouched versions of real-life peers presents a ripe environment for upward social comparison, or comparing yourself to someone who is “better” in some respect.

From Scientific American