adjective

1. soft or delicate and easily chewed, broken, cut, etc.; fragile, succulent, etc.
2. weak of constitution or physique; unable to endure pain, hardship, etc.; feeble; frail
3. having weakness due to youth; immature; young the tender years
4. of soft quality or delicate tone; subdued tender colors
5. that requires careful handling; ticklish; delicate a tender question
6. gentle, mild, or light; not rough or heavy a tender touch
7. 1. that has or expresses affection, love, consideration, etc. a tender smile
   2. careful; considerate tender of another's feelings
8. sparing; chary tender of one's praise
9. 1. acutely sensitive, as to pain, insult, etc.
   2. sensitive to impressions, emotions, moral influences, etc.; impressionable a tender conscience
   3. sensitive to others' feelings; sympathetic; compassionate a tender heart
10. giving physical pain, as from overuse or when not fully healed; painful; hurting a tender pitching arm
11. Naut. tending to lean over under sail; crank

Etymology: ME tendre < OFr < L tener, soft, delicate, tender, prob. altered (infl. by tenuis, thin) < Sabine terenum, soft, akin to Gr terēn, tender < IE *ter-, tender, weak, orig., rubbed, worn down < base *ter-, to rub > throw

transitive verb

1. to make tender
2. Archaic to treat with tenderness

transitive verb

1. to offer in payment of an obligation
2. to present for acceptance; offer to tender an invitation, apology, etc.
3. to submit as a tender to tender a bid

Etymology: Fr tendre < L tendere, to stretch, extend, tend

noun

1. an offer of money, services, etc. made to satisfy an obligation, avoid legal action, etc.
2. a formal offer, as a proposal of marriage, a bid stating terms of a contract, or a bid on a printed form submitted to buy securities at a certain price
3. ☆ something offered in payment, esp. money

noun

1. a person who tends, or has charge of, something
2. 1. an auxiliary ship for supplying or servicing another ship or a submarine, seaplane, buoys, etc.
   2. a boat for carrying passengers, etc. to or from a ship close to shore
3. a railroad car carrying fuel and water for a steam locomotive, to the rear of which it is attached