Touchstone
noun
A standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized.
His work is a touchstone of quality.
Often appears as...
- serve as a touchstone
- touchstone of quality
noun
A hard black stone used to test the quality of gold or silver.
Goldsmiths used a touchstone to determine the purity of gold.
Often appears as...
- test with a touchstone
- touchstone for gold
noun
A standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized.
His work is a touchstone of quality.
Often appears as...
- serve as a touchstone
- touchstone of quality
noun
A hard black stone used to test the quality of gold or silver.
Goldsmiths used a touchstone to determine the purity of gold.
Often appears as...
- test with a touchstone
- touchstone for gold
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Abstract Standard
Often used metaphorically to represent an ideal that other things are compared against.
Her outstanding performance has become the touchstone for all future actors.
Pro Tip 2/3Judgment Tool
Use it to talk about methods of evaluation in various fields, from art to technology.
Their app is the new touchstone for user-friendly design.
Pro Tip 3/3Quality Indicator
A measure for comparing the excellence or merit of similar items or scenarios.
This feature is the touchstone of a good smartphone.
Compare with
benchmarkcriteriongaugemeasureprototypestandardtestyardstick
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Video examples
David S. Rose: 10 things...
You stop, you need to figure out a nice, logical progression. Start with what the market Why are you going to do X, Y or Z? And then you've got to tell me how you're going to do it, and what you're going to do. And it's got to flow from beginning to end. You've got to let me know there are touchstones, to tie in to the rest of the world out there.
Video examples
It's OK to feel...
And that is both a good and a bad thing. Right? We can get used to totalitarianism, but we can also get used to -- I've gotten used to a world without the love of my life in it. We can adapt. And I keep using that line as a touchstone for myself,
Video examples
Angela Patton: A...
This was going to be used as a touchstone so when they started to miss each other and feel disconnected, they could reconnect through this image. I'll never forget that one girl looked in her father's eyes with that camera and said,
Video examples
Travelers of the Year...
and where I died. I wanted them to know that I didn't die alone and in fear. And that-- You don't get closer than that. Like dipping my toe into feeling my own mortality has been a touchstone for me, for the rest of my life now.
Video examples
Reimagining Dinosaurs PIPE...
touchstone for so many i mean is this something that we could do and that we should do yeah so a few years ago my answer to the could do would have been probably a pretty resounding no gino gene editing which of course
Video examples
Pirate Ship Wreck...
this is going to be discoveries that go on forever I think and completely understanding what we have and there's touchstones to this secretive Democratic outlaw subculture but who were this people
Video examples
Why should you read...
This unflinching language has made Plath an important touchstone for countless other readers and writers who sought to break the silence surrounding issues of trauma, frustration, and sexuality.
Video examples
These Divers Search For...
black was born where do we put our sorrow where do we reconcile our history and where do we reconnect with our heritage all of us look for a touchstone generations later
Video examples
Ebony Roberts and Shaka...
And I see them as a road map, as a guide, as a touchstone for other parents to protect and to empower their children, especially in a world where it's very difficult.
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
the book which the whole of the english-speaking world would turn to for wisdom for famous phrases for just as a touchstone in life and I think one of
Video examples
David S. Rose: 10 things...
You stop, you need to figure out a nice, logical progression. Start with what the market Why are you going to do X, Y or Z? And then you've got to tell me how you're going to do it, and what you're going to do. And it's got to flow from beginning to end. You've got to let me know there are touchstones, to tie in to the rest of the world out there.
Video examples
It's OK to feel...
And that is both a good and a bad thing. Right? We can get used to totalitarianism, but we can also get used to -- I've gotten used to a world without the love of my life in it. We can adapt. And I keep using that line as a touchstone for myself,
Video examples
Angela Patton: A...
This was going to be used as a touchstone so when they started to miss each other and feel disconnected, they could reconnect through this image. I'll never forget that one girl looked in her father's eyes with that camera and said,
Video examples
Travelers of the Year...
and where I died. I wanted them to know that I didn't die alone and in fear. And that-- You don't get closer than that. Like dipping my toe into feeling my own mortality has been a touchstone for me, for the rest of my life now.
Video examples
Reimagining Dinosaurs PIPE...
touchstone for so many i mean is this something that we could do and that we should do yeah so a few years ago my answer to the could do would have been probably a pretty resounding no gino gene editing which of course
Video examples
Pirate Ship Wreck...
this is going to be discoveries that go on forever I think and completely understanding what we have and there's touchstones to this secretive Democratic outlaw subculture but who were this people
Video examples
Why should you read...
This unflinching language has made Plath an important touchstone for countless other readers and writers who sought to break the silence surrounding issues of trauma, frustration, and sexuality.
Video examples
These Divers Search For...
black was born where do we put our sorrow where do we reconcile our history and where do we reconnect with our heritage all of us look for a touchstone generations later
Video examples
Ebony Roberts and Shaka...
And I see them as a road map, as a guide, as a touchstone for other parents to protect and to empower their children, especially in a world where it's very difficult.
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
the book which the whole of the english-speaking world would turn to for wisdom for famous phrases for just as a touchstone in life and I think one of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Bill Owens
American Politician
A renewed commitment to the freedom and opportunity of our people is the touchstone of our time. In this new century, where tests are many and challenges change with the shifting of the wind, we must hold fast to the principles that have made our nation the envy of the world.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
I retain characters more often than plot, but what seems to happen is that I latch on to specific moments, turns of phrase, and dialogue as touchstones for me to recall what happened in the book. Kind of like freeze-frame.
Quote examples
Bertrand Russell
British Philosopher
The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, which is the touchstone of the highest excellence, is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry.
Quote examples
Eric McCormack
Canadian Actor
Back when I was in theater school, trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life, 'Sweeney Todd' was a huge touchstone for me, my favorite musical for sure.
Quote examples
Sonny Mehta
Indian Editor
I believe 'Lean In' has the power to change not only our outlook but also the world and that it will become a touchstone publication for a generation of women.
Quote examples
Bruce McCulloch
Canadian Actor
I think you can see that in the show. Music was my touchstone. Music is still much more important to me.
Quote examples
Matt Duffer
Steven Spielberg films were huge touchstones for us growing up.
Quote examples
Ted Cruz
American Politician
My touchstone for every question is the Constitution.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
Dreams are the touchstones of our character.
Quote examples
Daniel Kaluuya
English Actor
Nas is such a touchstone in my world.
Quote examples
Bill Owens
American Politician
A renewed commitment to the freedom and opportunity of our people is the touchstone of our time. In this new century, where tests are many and challenges change with the shifting of the wind, we must hold fast to the principles that have made our nation the envy of the world.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
I retain characters more often than plot, but what seems to happen is that I latch on to specific moments, turns of phrase, and dialogue as touchstones for me to recall what happened in the book. Kind of like freeze-frame.
Quote examples
Bertrand Russell
British Philosopher
The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, which is the touchstone of the highest excellence, is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry.
Quote examples
Eric McCormack
Canadian Actor
Back when I was in theater school, trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life, 'Sweeney Todd' was a huge touchstone for me, my favorite musical for sure.
Quote examples
Sonny Mehta
Indian Editor
I believe 'Lean In' has the power to change not only our outlook but also the world and that it will become a touchstone publication for a generation of women.
Quote examples
Bruce McCulloch
Canadian Actor
I think you can see that in the show. Music was my touchstone. Music is still much more important to me.
Quote examples
Matt Duffer
Steven Spielberg films were huge touchstones for us growing up.
Quote examples
Ted Cruz
American Politician
My touchstone for every question is the Constitution.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
Dreams are the touchstones of our character.
Quote examples
Daniel Kaluuya
English Actor
Nas is such a touchstone in my world.
Example 1 of 10
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