touch off vs activate

touch off and activate both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
touch off	No	No	Yes	No
activate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, touch off and activate are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of touch off include actuate, set off, spark, spark off, trigger, trigger off, trip.

touch off (verb)	activate (verb)
put in motion or move to act	make active or more active
	make (substances) radioactive
	aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter
	make more adsorptive
	put in motion or move to act