tangible

/ˈtændʒəbəl/

/ˈtændʒɪbəl/

When you can touch something, it's tangible: "I need tangible proof that aliens exist — I want to shake their little green hands!"

Tangible is from Latin tangere, "to touch," and it simply means something that can be touched or felt, though it can be used in metaphorical senses: tangible assets have a value that can be precisely measured, and tangible grief can be clearly sensed by an onlooker. So you might not need to physically touch something for it to be tangible, but it has to be grounded in the real world of facts.

Definitions of tangible

1. adjective

   perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
   “skin with a tangible roughness”

   synonyms: touchable

   concrete

   capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary

   tactile, tactual

   producing a sensation of touch

   antonyms:

   intangible

   incapable of being perceived by the senses, especially the sense of touch

   abstract

   existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment
2. adjective

   capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt
   synonyms: palpable

   perceptible

   easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

   perceptible

   capable of being perceived by the mind or senses
3. adjective

   capable of being treated as fact
   “tangible evidence”

   synonyms: real

   concrete

   capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary
4. adjective

   (of especially business assets) having physical substance and intrinsic monetary value
   “tangible property like real estate”

   “tangible assets such as machinery”

   synonyms:

   real

   (of property) fixed or immovable

   realizable

   capable of being realized

   antonyms:

   intangible

   (of especially business assets) not having physical substance or intrinsic productive value