tender

¹

[ten-der]

adjective

tenderer, tenderest 

1. soft or delicate in substance; not hard or tough.

   a tender steak.

2. weak or delicate in constitution; not strong or hardy.

3. (of plants) unable to withstand freezing temperatures.

4. young or immature.

   children of tender age.

5. delicate or soft in quality.

   tender blue.

6. delicate, soft, or gentle.

   the tender touch of her hand.

7. easily moved to sympathy or compassion; kind.

   a tender heart.

8. affectionate or loving; sentimental or amatory.

   a tender glance.

9. acutely or painfully sensitive.

   a tender bruise.

10. easily distressed; readily made uneasy.

    a tender conscience.

11. yielding readily to force or pressure; easily broken; fragile.

    These roofing shingles are too old and tender.

12. of a delicate or ticklish nature; requiring careful or tactful handling.

    a tender subject.

13. considerate or careful; wary or reluctant (usually followed byof ).

    He was tender of imposing his views on others.

14. Nautical.,  crank.

noun

1. Usually tenders

   1. a strip of chicken meat loosely attached to the underside of each breast half, along the breastbone.

   2. a boneless and skinless strip of chicken cut from the breast or thigh.

verb (used with object)

1. to make tender.

   He tendered the meat in his special marinade before throwing it on the grill.

2. Archaic.,  to regard or treat tenderly.

tender

²

[ten-der]

verb (used with object)

1. to present formally for acceptance; make formal offer of.

   to tender one's resignation.

2. to offer or proffer.

3. Law.,  to offer, as money or goods, in payment of a debt or other obligation, especially in exact accordance with the terms of the law and of the obligation.

verb (used without object)

1. to make or submit a bid (often followed byfor ).

noun

1. the act of tendering; an offer of something for acceptance.

   Synonyms: proffer, proposal

2. something tendered or offered, especially money, as in payment.

3. Commerce.,  an offer made in writing by one party to another to execute certain work, supply certain commodities, etc., at a given cost; bid.

4. Law.,  an offer, as of money or goods, in payment or satisfaction of a debt or other obligation.

tender

³

[ten-der]

noun

1. a person who tends; a person who attends to or takes charge of someone or something.

2. an auxiliary ship employed to attend one or more other ships, as for supplying provisions.

3. a dinghy carried or towed by a yacht.

4. Railroads.,  a car attached to a steam locomotive for carrying fuel and water.

tender

¹

/ ˈtɛndə /

adjective

1. easily broken, cut, or crushed; soft; not tough

   a tender steak

2. easily damaged; vulnerable or sensitive

   a tender youth

   at a tender age

3. having or expressing warm and affectionate feelings

   a tender smile

4. kind, merciful, or sympathetic

   a tender heart

5. arousing warm feelings; touching

   a tender memory

6. gentle and delicate

   a tender breeze

7. requiring care in handling; ticklish

   a tender question

8. painful or sore

   a tender wound

9. sensitive to moral or spiritual feelings

   a tender conscience

10. careful or protective

    tender of one's emotions

11. (of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by a wind; crank Compare stiff

verb

1. rare,  (tr)

   1. to make tender

   2. to treat tenderly

tender

²

/ ˈtɛndə /

verb

1. (tr) to give, present, or offer

   to tender one's resignation

   tender a bid

2. to make a formal offer or estimate for (a job or contract)

3. (tr) law to offer (money or goods) in settlement of a debt or claim

noun

1. the act or an instance of tendering; offer

2. commerce a formal offer to supply specified goods or services at a stated cost or rate

3. something, esp money, used as an official medium of payment

   legal tender

tender

³

/ ˈtɛndə /

noun

1. a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship

2. a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water

3. an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast

4. a person who tends

Other Word Forms

• tenderly adverb
• tenderness noun
• tenderer noun
• tenderable adjective
• self-tenderness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tender¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, variant of tendre, from Old French, from Latin tenerum, accusative of tener “tender”

Origin of tender²

First recorded in 1535–45; earlier tendre, noun use of Anglo-French tendre “to extend, offer”; tend ¹

Origin of tender³

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; originally a variant of attender; tend ², -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tender¹

C13: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener delicate

Origin of tender²

C16: from Anglo-French tendre, from Latin tendere to extend; see _tend ¹

Origin of tender³

C15: variant of attender

Idioms and Phrases

see leave to someone's tender mercies.

Synonym Study

See offer.

Example Sentences

A tender city romance about about gentrification and Black melancholy, “Love, Brooklyn” brings together appealing actors and the charms of New York’s ever-changing borough into soft focus.

From Los Angeles Times

The decision was made to turn pro at the tender age of 18 and in May, she was signed by Matchroom.

From BBC

Fire and sheriff’s staff said there were about 1,200 personnel working on operations, with 140 engines, 34 dozers, 20 hand crews, 24 water tenders and 10 helicopters.

From Los Angeles Times

The dispatch includes: 10 fire engines, two water tenders, two bulldozers, one helicopter, two hand crews, three dispatchers and one Incident Management Team.

From Los Angeles Times

And that is how a quack who treats the tender corns on pedicured toes suddenly becomes a world-renowned corn doctor in a show that seemingly never met a pun it didn’t like.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gentle 
• mild 
• mushy 
• poignant 
• romantic 
• sentimental 
• soft 
• thoughtful 
• touching 
• warm