touch off

== English == === Pronunciation === === Verb === touch off (third-person singular simple present touches off, present participle touching off, simple past and past participle touched off) (transitive, idiomatic) To start (something); to set off traps; especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed. (transitive, idiomatic) To cause a fire to start. (machining) To establish a reference coordinate or datum, by moving the tool head to just touch the workpiece or machine bed. ==== Translations ====