tender

¹ten·der

adjective \ˈten-dər\

Definition of TENDER

1

a : having a soft or yielding texture : easily broken, cut, or damaged : delicate, fragile <tender feet>

b : easily chewed : succulent

2

a : physically weak : not able to endure hardship

b : immature, young <children of tender age>

c : incapable of resisting cold : not hardy <tender perennials>

3

: marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer emotions : fond, loving <a tender lover>

4

a : showing care : considerate, solicitous <tender regard>

b : highly susceptible to impressions or emotions : impressionable <a tender conscience>

5

a : appropriate or conducive to a delicate or sensitive constitution or character : gentle, mild <tender breeding> <tender irony>

b : delicate or soft in quality or tone <never before heard the piano sound so tender — Elva S. Daniels>

6

obsolete : dear, precious

7

a : sensitive to touch or palpation <the bruise was still tender>

b : sensitive to injury or insult : touchy <tender pride>

c : demanding careful and sensitive handling : ticklish <a tender situation>

d of a boat : easily tipped by an external force

— ten·der·ly adverb

— ten·der·ness noun

Examples of TENDER

1. He gave her a tender look.
2. She was tender and loving with her new child.
3. Cook the pasta until it is just tender.
4. Her wrist was swollen and tender.

Origin of TENDER

Middle English, from Anglo-French tendre, from Latin tener; perhaps akin to Latin tenuis thin, slight — more at thin

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TENDER

Synonyms

delicate, fragile, frail, sensitive

Antonyms

tough

Related Words

breakable, brittle, crushable, eggshell, frangible, friable; feeble, flimsy, puny, slight, soft, tenuous, weak; nonhardy, perishable, resistless, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding

Near Antonyms

durable, firm, flinty, hard, hardy, resistant, robust, rugged, solid, sound, stiff, stout, strong, sturdy, substantial; infrangible, nonbreakable, unbreakable; hardened, inured, strengthened, tempered, toughened

Rhymes with TENDER

bender, blender, fender, gender, lender, mender, render, sender, slender, spender, splendor, vendor

²tender

noun

Definition of TENDER

obsolete

: consideration, regard

Origin of TENDER

¹tender

First Known Use: 13th century

³tender

verb

ten·deredten·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of TENDER

transitive verb

1

: to make tender : soften, weaken

2

archaic : to regard or treat with tenderness

intransitive verb

: to become tender

First Known Use of TENDER

14th century

⁴tender

verb

ten·deredten·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of TENDER

transitive verb

1

: to make a tender of

2

: to present for acceptance : offer <tendered my resignation>

intransitive verb

: to make a bid or tender

Origin of TENDER

Middle English tendren, from Anglo-French tendre offer

First Known Use: 15th century

⁵tender

noun, often attributive

Definition of TENDER

1

: an unconditional offer of money or service in satisfaction of a debt or obligation made to save a penalty or forfeiture for nonpayment or nonperformance

2

: an offer or proposal made for acceptance: as

a : an offer of a bid for a contract

b : tender offer

3

: something that may be offered in payment; specifically : money

Origin of TENDER

Middle English tendur grant of a license, from Anglo-French tendre offer, tender, from tendre, verb, to stretch, hold out, offer, direct, from Latin tendere to stretch, direct — more at thin

First Known Use: circa 1543

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

⁶tend·er

noun \ˈten-dər\

Definition of TENDER

: one that tends: as

a (1) : a ship employed to attend other ships (as to supply provisions) (2) : a boat for communication or transportation between shore and a larger ship (3) : a warship that provides logistic support

b : a car attached to a steam locomotive for carrying a supply of fuel and water

First Known Use of TENDER

1675

⁷tender

noun

Definition of TENDER

: an often breaded strip of usually breast meat <chicken tenders>; also : the tenderloin of a chicken

Origin of TENDER

probably short for tenderloin

First Known Use: 1983

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

ten·der

adjective \ˈten-dər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of TENDER

: sensitive to touch or palpation <tender skin> <a tender palpable kidney>

—ten·der·ness \-nəs\ (audio pronunciation) noun