tactile
adjective
tac·tile
| \ ˈtak-tᵊl
, -ˌtī(-ə)l\
, -ˌtī(-ə)l\
Definition of tactile
1
: perceptible by touch : tangible
2
: of, relating to, or being the sense of touch
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Other Words from tactile
tactilely
\ ˈtak-tə-lē
, -ˌtī(-ə)l-lē \
adverb
, -ˌtī(-ə)l-lē \
adverb
Examples of tactile in a Sentence
He not only had visual difficulties but tactile ones, too—witness his grasping his wife's head and mistaking it for a hat …
— Oliver Sacks, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2002
There is a tactile and therefore somatic dimension to stroking the chalk that keeps the artist in constant, responsible and responsive touch with his emerging creation.
— Jed Perl, New Republic, 17 June 2002
The keyboard has good tactile feedback, and the touch pad is responsive without being too twitchy.
— Bruce Brown, PC Magazine, 20 Feb. 2001
… nothing prepared me for the tactile reality of the original volumes, leaf after carefully written leaf over which his hand had travelled …
— Edmund Morris, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 1995
Near midday the heat of the sun bounced up from the bare patches of soil to hit with an almost tactile force.
— Edward O. Wilson, Smithsonian, October 1984
The thick brushstrokes give the painting a tactile quality.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Visitors grab stainless-steel handrails, a tactile sign of the unfolding modern retreat. — Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, "A tranquil garden getaway amid the hustle and bustle of Westwood," 3 Aug. 2019 That set of instincts — her preference for narrow, tactile proposals over grandly ambitious ones, her facility with procedure and unease with ideology — defines her approach to politics, according to Ms. Harris and her closest associates. — Alexander Burns, New York Times, "What Kamala Harris Believes," 27 July 2019 Personal devices of all sizes made television as portable as books or magazines (though still not as pleasing in a tactile sense). — Los Angeles Times, "Netflix is having a long, cruel summer," 23 July 2019 Despite its visual and tactile heftiness, the Superscreen quickly melts into skin without leaving a chalky white cast or uncomfortable heaviness. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "I Get So Many Compliments on My Skin When I Wear This SPF-Spiked Moisturizer," 17 July 2019 Earplugs make hearing a challenge and gloves mean less tactile sensation. — Beth Thames | Bethmthames@gmail.com, al.com, "Feeling old? So is Agnes," 5 June 2019 What that has been like for you in a tactile way as well as emotionally and mentally. — Jane Ratcliffe, Longreads, "‘Brokenness and Holiness Really Go Together’: Darcey Steinke on Menopause," 15 June 2019 The collection is made up of slouchy, relaxed silhouettes in new tactile fabrications. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Zara Unveiled Its Second Military-Inspired SRPLS Collection," 29 Apr. 2019 Neither would say whether a tactile boss was a factor in their bear case. — Carol Ryan, WSJ, "Ted Baker Gets a Bear Hug," 3 Dec. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tactile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for tactile
tactile
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of tactile
formal
: relating to the sense of touch
See the full definition for tactile in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tactile
adjective
tac·tile
| \ ˈtak-təl
\
\
Kids Definition of tactile
: relating to the sense of touch
tactile
adjective
tac·tile
| \ ˈtak-tᵊl
, -ˌtīl
\
, -ˌtīl
\
Medical Definition of tactile
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: of, relating to, mediated by, or affecting the sense of touch
tactile sensations tactile stimuli tactile anesthesia
2
: having or being organs or receptors for the sense of touch
Other Words from tactile
tactilely
\ -Ä“
\
adverb
\
adverb
tactile
nounMedical Definition of tactile (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person whose prevailing mental imagery is tactile rather than visual, auditory, or motor — compare audile entry 1, motile entry 2, visualizer
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