Tactile imagery is a literary device that appeals to the sense of touch by using descriptive language to create a sensory experience for the reader or listener. It is one of the five key types of imagery in writing, with the others being visual, olfactory, gustatory, and auditory. Tactile imagery involves the use of language that describes the feel of things, such as texture, temperature, and other physical sensations.

Examples of tactile imagery include "The icy wind stung my cheeks and made my fingers numb" and "As I tumbled down the hill, the loose rocks raced alongside me, pricking my hands and face like a hundred tiny knives". Effective tactile imagery helps the audience to vividly imagine or experience a physical sensation through words.

Tactile imagery is different from kinesthetic imagery, which describes movement, and organic imagery, which describes internal sensations. Tactile experiences only refer to external sensations, primarily on the skin.

In summary, tactile imagery is a literary device that appeals to the sense of touch by using descriptive language to create a sensory experience for the reader or listener. It is one of the five key types of imagery in writing and involves the use of language that describes the feel of things.