When talking about photography, specifically post-processing and image editing, the term 'retouching' refers to any process used to alter an image physically, in the case of film or, digitally in the case of digital images to improve the images appearance.
Basic retouching means up to 10 minutes of work on an image – removing blemishes, brightening teeth, smoothing skin, or even removing an unsightly wire… I include basic retouching on any fine art prints a client orders or images included in a photo album.