tender

[ ten-der ]

/ ˈtɛn dər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tender ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, ten·der·er, ten·der·est.

soft or delicate in substance; not hard or tough: a tender steak.

weak or delicate in constitution; not strong or hardy.

(of plants) unable to withstand freezing temperatures.

young or immature: children of tender age.

delicate or soft in quality: tender blue.

delicate, soft, or gentle: the tender touch of her hand.

easily moved to sympathy or compassion; kind: a tender heart.

affectionate or loving; sentimental or amatory: a tender glance.

considerate or careful; chary or reluctant (usually followed by of).

acutely or painfully sensitive: a tender bruise.

easily distressed; readily made uneasy: a tender conscience.

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

of a delicate or ticklish nature; requiring careful or tactful handling: a tender subject.

Nautical. crank²(def 1).

verb (used with object)

to make tender.

Archaic. to regard or treat tenderly.

Origin of tender

1175–1225; Middle English, variant of tendre < Old French < Latin tenerum, accusative of tener tender

OTHER WORDS FROM tender

ten·der·ly, adverb ten·der·ness, noun self-ten·der·ness, noun un·ten·der·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tender

tender tenor tenure

Words nearby tender

tend to, tendance, tendency, tendency tone, tendentious, tender, tender age, tender is the night, tender loving care, tender mercies, tender offer

Definition for tender (2 of 3)

tender ²

[ ten-der ]

/ ˈtɛn dər /

verb (used with object)

to present formally for acceptance; make formal offer of: to tender one's resignation.

to offer or proffer.

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)

to make or submit a bid (often followed by for).

noun

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

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

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

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

Origin of tender

1535–45; earlier tendre, noun use of Anglo-French tendre to extend, offer. See tend¹

SYNONYMS FOR tender

1 See offer.

5 proposal, proffer.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tender ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM tender

ten·der·er, noun

Definition for tender (3 of 3)

tender ³

[ ten-der ]

/ ˈtɛn dər /

noun

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

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

a dinghy carried or towed by a yacht.

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

Origin of tender

1425–75; late Middle English; orig. aphetic variant of attender; see tend², -er¹

Example sentences from the Web for tender

According to Swiss press reports, younger cats in the litter are the most tender and, as such, are the preferred cat cuts.

Will the Swiss Quit Cooking their Kittens and Puppies? |Barbie Latza Nadeau |November 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She became an international sensation at the tender age of two—before she even started pre-school—for her abstract works of art.

The Tiniest Jackson Pollock |Justin Jones |November 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Not surprisingly, a construction company in his region has already submitted a tender to build the project.

The Great Wall of Ukraine |Vijai Maheshwari |October 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Always spare, often forceful, Ryan Adams alternates tough pop songs with tender, unsparing ballads.

‘Ryan Adams’ Is No Domestic Bliss Album |Keith Phipps |September 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

How is life worth living without spinach, tender asparagus, or purple-sprouting broccoli?

Brits Are Very Fussy Eaters |Emma Woolf |August 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It could convey so much, could be so tender and beseeching, so charged with deepest sadness, so musical always.

Jan and Her Job |L. Allen Harker
The mother's mood may be read at a glance: she is showing in one of a thousand tender ways her motherly affection for her child.

The Madonna in Art |Estelle M. Hurll
In the meanwhile, can he ever pass Bedlam, without a tender feeling for the future destiny of his footmen and coachman?

Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) |Various
Adieu, my dear mother; love me always, and be assured of the tender feelings that I have for you.

The Correspondence of Madame, Princess Palatine, Mother of the Regent; of Marie-Adlade de Savoie, Duchesse de Bourgogne; and of Madame de Maintenon, in Relation to Saint-Cyr |Charlotte-Elisabeth, duchesse d Orlans; Marie Adelaide, of Savoy, Duchess of Burgundy; and Madame de Maintenon
He saw that a tender light, the softness of sympathy, came into her eyes when she noticed the plasters on his forehead and cheek.

Spring Street |James H. Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for tender (1 of 3)

tender ¹

/ (ˈtɛndə) /

adjective

easily broken, cut, or crushed; soft; not tough a tender steak

easily damaged; vulnerable or sensitive a tender youth; at a tender age

having or expressing warm and affectionate feelings a tender smile

kind, merciful, or sympathetic a tender heart

arousing warm feelings; touching a tender memory

gentle and delicate a tender breeze

requiring care in handling; ticklish a tender question

painful or sore a tender wound

sensitive to moral or spiritual feelings a tender conscience

(postpositive foll by of) careful or protective tender of one's emotions

(of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by a wind; crank Compare stiff (def. 10)

verb

(tr) rare

to make tender
to treat tenderly

Derived forms of tender

tenderly, adverb tenderness, noun

Word Origin for tender

C13: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener delicate

British Dictionary definitions for tender (2 of 3)

tender ²

/ (ˈtɛndə) /

verb

(tr) to give, present, or offer to tender one's resignation; tender a bid

(intr foll by for) to make a formal offer or estimate for (a job or contract)

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

noun

the act or an instance of tendering; offer

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

something, esp money, used as an official medium of payment legal tender

Derived forms of tender

tenderable, adjective tenderer, noun

Word Origin for tender

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

British Dictionary definitions for tender (3 of 3)

tender ³

/ (ˈtɛndə) /

noun

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

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

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

a person who tends

Word Origin for tender

C15: variant of attender

Medical definitions for tender

tender

[ tĕn′dər ]

adj.

Easily crushed or bruised; fragile.

Easily hurt; sensitive.

Painful; sore.

Idioms and Phrases with tender

tender

see leave to someone's tender mercies.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tender

adjective, ten·der·er, ten·der·est.

verb (used with object)

Origin of tender

OTHER WORDS FROM tender

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tender

Words nearby tender

Definition for tender (2 of 3)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of tender

SYNONYMS FOR tender

OTHER WORDS FROM tender

Definition for tender (3 of 3)

noun

Origin of tender

Example sentences from the Web for tender

British Dictionary definitions for tender (1 of 3)

adjective

verb

Derived forms of tender

Word Origin for tender

British Dictionary definitions for tender (2 of 3)

verb

noun

Derived forms of tender

Word Origin for tender

British Dictionary definitions for tender (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for tender

Medical definitions for tender

adj.

Idioms and Phrases with tender

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tender

adjective, ten·der·er, ten·der·est.

verb (used with object)

Origin of tender

OTHER WORDS FROM tender

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tender

Words nearby tender

Definition for tender (2 of 3)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Origin of tender

SYNONYMS FOR tender

OTHER WORDS FROM tender

Definition for tender (3 of 3)

noun

Origin of tender

Words related to tender

Example sentences from the Web for tender

British Dictionary definitions for tender (1 of 3)

adjective

verb

Derived forms of tender

Word Origin for tender

British Dictionary definitions for tender (2 of 3)

verb

noun

Derived forms of tender

Word Origin for tender

British Dictionary definitions for tender (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for tender

Medical definitions for tender

adj.

Idioms and Phrases with tender