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tender1 definition

ten·der (ten′dər)

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
    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
    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

Related Forms:

tender2 definition

ten·der (ten′dər)

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

Related Forms:

tender3 definition

ten·der (ten′dər)

noun

  1. a person who tends, or has charge of, something
    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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms tender idiom

law tender definition - legal

medical tender definition - medical

tender Synonyms

tender

modif.

  1. Soft

    delicate, fragile, supple; see soft 2.

  2. Youthful

    immature, childish, childlike; see young 1.

  3. Kind

    kind, warm, warmhearted, sympathetic, loving, solicitous, compassionate; see also kind.

  4. Weak

    fragile, frail, delicate; see weak 1.

  5. Touching

    moving, pathetic, affecting; see pitiful 1.

  6. Sensitive

    delicate, dainty, touchy, ticklish, oversensitive, hypersensitive, painful; see also raw 5, sore.

tender implies a softness or gentleness in one's relations with others that is expressive of warm affection, concern, etc. a tender caress; compassionate is applied to one who is easily affected by another's troubles or pains and is quick to show pity or mercy a compassionate judge; sympathetic implies the ability or disposition to enter into another's mental state or emotions and thus to share sorrows, joys, desires, etc. a sympathetic interest in a colleague's career; warm and warmhearted suggest an interest or affection characterized by cordiality, generosity, etc. warm, or warmhearted, hospitality


tender

v.

proffer, present, give; see offer 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

tender Usage Examples

Object

  • process: A national tendering process was carried out to identify the 27 pilot programs.

Converse of object

  • invite: An advert was placed in the OJEC in early March inviting tenders with a closing date of 23rd April 2004.

Adjective modifier

  • advantageous: The NAO will award work to the economically most advantageous tender.

Modifies a noun

  • mercy: Shall I go astray after so much loving kindness and tender mercy?

Noun used with modifier

  • gallon: The 3500 gallon tenders recovered from the Us were altered to suit the left hand drive of the Qs.

Preposition: for

  • contract: DH invited manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply pandemic flu vaccine once the pandemic strain is known.
tender usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

tender quotes

In things that are tender and unpleasing, it isgood to break the ice by some whose words are of less weight, and to reserve the more weighty voice to come in as by chance.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Gave thee life and bid thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice? Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?

-Blake,William

   Tender is the Night.

-Fitzgerald, F(rancis) Scott Key

tender quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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tender. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/tender

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