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1

tender

play
adjective ten·der \ ˈten-dər \

Definition of tender

1 :marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer emotions :fond, loving
  • a tender lover
2 a :showing care :considerate, solicitous
  • tender regard
b :highly susceptible to impressions or emotions :impressionable
  • a tender conscience
3 a :easily chewed :succulent
b :having a soft or yielding texture :easily broken, cut, or damaged :delicate, fragile
  • tender feet
4 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
5 a :physically weak :not able to endure hardship
b :immature, young
  • children of tender age
c :incapable of resisting cold :not hardy
  • tender perennials
6 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
7 obsolete :dear, precious
—

tenderly

adverb
—

tenderness

noun

See tender defined for English-language learners

See tender defined for kids

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Examples of tender in a Sentence

  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 and Etymology of tender

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

tender Synonyms

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
2

tender

verb

Definition of tender

tendered; tendering play \-d(ə-)riŋ\
transitive verb
1 :to present for acceptance :offer
  • tendered my resignation
2 :to make a tender of
intransitive verb
:to make a bid or tender

Origin and Etymology of tender

Middle English tendren, from Anglo-French tendre offer

3

tender

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: such as
a :an offer of a bid for a contract
b :tender offer
3 :something that may be offered in payment; specifically :money

Origin and Etymology 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

4

tender

noun

Definition of tender

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

Origin and Etymology of tender

probably short for tenderloin

5

tender

play
noun tend·er \ ˈten-dər \

Definition of tender

:one that tends: such 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

Other Business Terms

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

6

tender

verb

Definition of tender

tendered; tendering play \-d(ə-)riŋ\
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

7

tender

noun

Definition of tender

obsolete
:consideration, regard

Origin and Etymology of tender

1tender

Other Food Terms

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

Phrases Related to TENDER

Related Phrases

TENDER Defined for English Language Learners

tender

play
adjective

Definition of tender for English Language Learners

  • : very loving and gentle : showing affection and love for someone or something

  • of food : easy to chew or bite : not tough

  • : painful when touched

TENDER Defined for Kids

1

tender

play
adjective ten·der \ ˈten-dər \

Definition of tender for Students

tenderer; tenderest
1 :not tough
  • a tender steak
2 :delicate 4
  • tender plants
3 :1young 1
  • He left home at a tender age.
4 :feeling or showing love
5 :very easily hurt
  • a tender scar
  • His tender old feet moved from one smooth rock to another.
  • —Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows.
—

tenderly

adverb
  • She smiled tenderly.
—

tenderness

noun
2

tender

verb

Definition of tender for Students

tendered; tendering
1 :to offer in payment
2 :to present for acceptance
  • She tendered her resignation.
3

tender

noun

Definition of tender for Students

1 :2offer 3
2 :something (as money) that may be offered in payment
4

tender

play
noun tend·er \ ˈten-dər \

Definition of tender for Students

1 :a boat that carries passengers or freight to a larger ship
2 :a car attached to a locomotive for carrying fuel or water

Medical Dictionary

tender

play
adjective ten·der \ ˈten-dər \

medical Definition of tender

:sensitive to touch or palpation
  • tender skin
  • a tender palpable kidney
—

tenderness

play \-nəs\ noun

Law Dictionary

1

tender

noun ten·der

legal Definition of tender

1 a :an act or instance of tendering
b :an unconditional offer of payment or performance (as in discharge of an obligation) that is coupled with a manifestation of willingness and ability to follow through (as by producing a check)
c :tender of delivery
  • sufficient tender
2 :something offered in payment or performance; specifically :money
  • the proper amount of tender required
— see also legal tender
2

tender

verb

legal Definition of tender

transitive verb
1 a :to make a tender of
  • tender goods
  • tender delivery
  • tender payment
  • tender performance
b :to offer as an amount in settlement of a claim by an injured party against an insured
Note: An insurance company might be obligated to tender the limits of a policy to an injured party when a higher amount is likely to be awarded at trial.
2 :to extend for acceptance or consideration (as in proof of something) especially in a proceeding
  • tender a plea to the court
  • tender an issue
3 :to offer for sale
  • tender shares
intransitive verb
:to offer securities for sale
  • make an informed decision to tender

Origin and Etymology of tender

Anglo-French tendre to offer, propose for acceptance, literally, to stretch, hold out, from Old French, from Latin tendere

Learn More about tender

  1. See words that rhyme with tender Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tender Spanish Central: Translation of tender Nglish: Translation of tender for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tender for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tender

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Examples: tender in a Sentence