tender
1soft or delicate in substance; not hard or tough: a tender steak.
weak or delicate in constitution; not strong or hardy.
(of plants) unable to withstand freezing temperatures.
young or immature: children of tender age.
delicate or soft in quality: tender blue.
delicate, soft, or gentle: the tender touch of her hand.
easily moved to sympathy or compassion; kind: a tender heart.
affectionate or loving; sentimental or amatory: a tender glance.
acutely or painfully sensitive: a tender bruise.
easily distressed; readily made uneasy:a tender conscience.
yielding readily to force or pressure; easily broken; fragile: These roofing shingles are too old and tender.
of a delicate or ticklish nature; requiring careful or tactful handling: a tender subject.
considerate or careful; wary or reluctant (usually followed by of): He was tender of imposing his views on others.
Nautical. crank2 (def. 1).
Usually ten·ders .
a strip of chicken meat loosely attached to the underside of each breast half, along the breastbone.
a boneless and skinless strip of chicken cut from the breast or thigh.
to make tender: He tendered the meat in his special marinade before throwing it on the grill.
Archaic. to regard or treat tenderly.
Origin of tender
1Other words from tender
- ten·der·ly, adverb
- ten·der·ness, noun
- self-ten·der·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with tender
Other definitions for tender (2 of 3)
to present formally for acceptance; make formal offer of: to tender one's resignation.
to offer or proffer.
Law. to offer, as money or goods, in payment of a debt or other obligation, especially in exact accordance with the terms of the law and of the obligation.
to make or submit a bid (often followed by for).
the act of tendering; an offer of something for acceptance.
something tendered or offered, especially money, as in payment.
Commerce. an offer made in writing by one party to another to execute certain work, supply certain commodities, etc., at a given cost; bid.
Law. an offer, as of money or goods, in payment or satisfaction of a debt or other obligation.
Origin of tender
2synonym study For tender
Other words for tender
Other words from tender
- ten·der·er, noun
Other definitions for tender (3 of 3)
a person who tends; a person who attends to or takes charge of someone or something.
an auxiliary ship employed to attend one or more other ships, as for supplying provisions.
a dinghy carried or towed by a yacht.
Railroads. a car attached to a steam locomotive for carrying fuel and water.
Origin of tender
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tender in a sentence
I had impressed upon him that this was essential in order to test the bona fides of the tenderers.
The Chronicles of a Gay Gordon | Jos Maria Gordon
British Dictionary definitions for tender (1 of 3)
/ (ˈtɛndə) /
easily broken, cut, or crushed; soft; not tough: a tender steak
easily damaged; vulnerable or sensitive: a tender youth; at a tender age
having or expressing warm and affectionate feelings: a tender smile
kind, merciful, or sympathetic: a tender heart
arousing warm feelings; touching: a tender memory
gentle and delicate: a tender breeze
requiring care in handling; ticklish: a tender question
painful or sore: a tender wound
sensitive to moral or spiritual feelings: a tender conscience
(postpositive foll by of) careful or protective: tender of one's emotions
(of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by a wind; crank: Compare stiff (def. 10)
(tr) rare
to make tender
to treat tenderly
Origin of tender
1Derived forms of tender
- tenderly, adverb
- tenderness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for tender (2 of 3)
/ (ˈtɛndə) /
(tr) to give, present, or offer: to tender one's resignation; tender a bid
(intr foll by for) to make a formal offer or estimate for (a job or contract)
(tr) law to offer (money or goods) in settlement of a debt or claim
the act or an instance of tendering; offer
commerce a formal offer to supply specified goods or services at a stated cost or rate
something, esp money, used as an official medium of payment: legal tender
Origin of tender
2Derived forms of tender
- tenderable, adjective
- tenderer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for tender (3 of 3)
/ (ˈtɛndə) /
a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship
a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water
an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast
a person who tends
Origin of tender
3Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with tender
see leave to someone's tender mercies.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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