touch off

verb
touched off; touching off; touches off

Definition of touch off

transitive verb

1a : to provoke or initiate with sudden intensity the verdict touched off local riots
b : to cause to explode by or as if by touching with fire
2 : to describe or characterize with precision

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Examples of touch off in a Sentence

his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts

First Known Use of touch off

1694, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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