tenderness

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

transitive verb

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