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