tenderize

American

[ten-duh-rahyz] / ˈtɛn dəˌraɪz /

especially British, tenderise

verb (used with object)

tenderized, tenderizing

to make (meat) tender, as by pounding or by a chemical process or treatment.

tenderize British

/ ˈtɛndəˌraɪz /

verb

(tr) to make (meat) tender by pounding it to break down the fibres, by steeping it in a marinade, or by treating it with a tenderizer

"Collins 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 Word Forms

tenderization noun
tenderizer noun
untenderized adjective

Etymology

Origin of tenderize

First recorded in 1725–35; tender ¹ + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The tannins in the tea tenderize the chicken, and the sweetness from the tea and the soy sauce infuse into the chicken,” Biegel added.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2024

Orlando used heavy pressure to tenderize Tullis-Joyce, totaling 12 shots overall in the first half, the keeper saving five before the break.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 7, 2023

Rather than marinate the chicken for hours, 30 minutes will boost flavor and tenderize the meat.

From Washington Times • Apr. 17, 2023

To tenderize cube steaks, place them on a cutting board, uncovered, and using the “tooth” side of a meat mallet, pound the steaks five times per piece.

From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2023

The stuff tastes like something you’d use to tenderize pot roast.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023