tender
The definition of tender is easy to chew or being delicate or soft in action.
(adjective)- An example of tender is a piece of steak that is not tough.
- An example of tender is the way in which a mother gently rubs her baby's back.
Tender is a person who takes care of someone or something.
(noun)An example of tender is a shepherd to his flock.
See tender in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
- soft or delicate and easily chewed, broken, cut, etc.; fragile, succulent, etc.
- weak of constitution or physique; unable to endure pain, hardship, etc.; feeble; frail
- having weakness due to youth; immature; young: the tender years
- of soft quality or delicate tone; subdued: tender colors
- that requires careful handling; ticklish; delicate: a tender question
- gentle, mild, or light; not rough or heavy: a tender touch
- that has or expresses affection, love, consideration, etc.: a tender smile
- careful; considerate: tender of another's feelings
- sparing; chary: tender of one's praise
- acutely sensitive, as to pain, insult, etc.
- sensitive to impressions, emotions, moral influences, etc.; impressionable: a tender conscience
- sensitive to others' feelings; sympathetic; compassionate: a tender heart
- giving physical pain, as from overuse or when not fully healed; painful; hurting: a tender pitching arm
- Naut. tending to lean over under sail; crank
Origin: 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
- to make tender
- Archaic to treat with tenderness
Related Forms:
- tenderly adverb
- tenderness noun
transitive verb
- to offer in payment of an obligation
- to present for acceptance; offer: to tender an invitation, apology, etc.
- to submit as a tender: to tender a bid
Origin: Fr tendre < L tendere, to stretch, extend, tend
noun
- an offer of money, services, etc. made to satisfy an obligation, avoid legal action, etc.
- 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
- ☆ something offered in payment, esp. money
Related Forms:
- tenderer noun
noun
- a person who tends, or has charge of, something
- an auxiliary ship for supplying or servicing another ship or a submarine, seaplane, buoys, etc.
- a boat for carrying passengers, etc. to or from a ship close to shore
- a railroad car carrying fuel and water for a steam locomotive, to the rear of which it is attached
See tender in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective ten·der·er, ten·der·est
- a. Easily crushed or bruised; fragile: a tender petal.b. Easily chewed or cut: tender beef.
- Young and vulnerable: of tender age.
- Frail; delicate.
- Sensitive to frost or severe cold; not hardy: tender green shoots.
- a. Easily hurt; sensitive: tender skin.b. Painful; sore: a tender tooth.
- a. Considerate and protective; solicitous: a tender mother; his tender concern.b. Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving: a tender glance; a tender ballad.c. Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft: a tender heart.
- Nautical Likely to heel easily under sail; crank.
- To make tender.
- Archaic To treat with tender regard.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French tendre
Origin: , from Latin tener; see ten- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- tenˈder·ly adverb
- tenˈder·ness noun
noun
- A formal offer, as:a. Law An offer of money or service in payment of an obligation.b. A written offer to contract goods or services at a specified cost or rate; a bid.
- Something, especially money, offered in payment.
Origin:
Origin: From French tendre, to offer
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin tendere, to hold forth, extend; see ten- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- tenˈder·er noun
noun
- One who tends something: a lathe tender.
- Nautical A vessel attendant on other vessels, especially one that ferries supplies between ship and shore.
- A railroad car attached to the rear of a locomotive and designed to carry fuel and water.
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