Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Physically soft or easy to cut/chew: Describes something, especially food, that is not tough.
   • Easily damaged or hurt; delicate: Describes something fragile, vulnerable, or sensitive to pain.
   • Showing gentleness, kindness, or affection: Describes a gentle, caring, or loving manner or feeling.
   • Young and vulnerable: Describes a young age or stage of development.
   • Sensitive to the touch; painful: Describes a part of the body that is sore or painful when touched.
   • (Of a plant) not hardy; easily killed by frost.

2. Noun:

   • A formal offer to supply goods or do work at a stated price; a bid.
   • A vehicle carrying fuel or water for a locomotive or ship.
   • A small boat used to ferry people or supplies to and from a larger ship.
   • A person who looks after or tends to someone or something.

3. Verb:

   • To present or offer something formally: To formally offer something, such as a payment, resignation, or service.
   • To make a formal offer to do work or supply goods at a stated price: To submit a bid or tender.
   • To make meat soft by beating or treating it: To make something, especially meat, tender.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The steak was very tender and delicious. (Describing soft food)
  • She has a tender heart and is always helping others. (Describing a kind nature)
  • The child's skin is tender and needs protection from the sun. (Describing delicate skin)
  • He is still at a tender age and needs guidance. (Describing a young, vulnerable age)
  • My bruise is still tender to the touch. (Describing a sore spot)

• Noun:

  • The company submitted a tender for the construction project. (A formal bid)
  • The locomotive's tender was filled with coal. (A fuel/water car)
  • We took a tender from the cruise ship to the shore. (A small boat)

• Verb:

  • He decided to tender his resignation. (To formally offer)
  • Several firms will tender for the contract. (To submit a bid)
  • Marinating helps to tender the meat. (To make meat soft)

Advanced Usage

• Legal tender: Money that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt.

  • The banknote is legal tender in this country.

• To tender for something: To make a formal offer to do work.

  • Our company will tender for the new highway project.

• To tender one's apologies/services/resignation: Formal phrases for offering apologies, services, or resignation.

  • He was forced to tender his resignation.

Variants and Related Words

• Tenderly (adverb): In a gentle, loving, or careful way.
  • He held the baby tenderly.
• Tenderness (noun): The quality of being tender (gentle, kind, sore).
  • She spoke with great tenderness. / There is some tenderness around the wound.
• Tenderize (verb): To make meat tender, typically by pounding or marinating.
  • Use a marinade to tenderize the beef.
• Tenderfoot (noun): A newcomer or novice, especially in a rugged environment.
• Tender-hearted (adjective): Having a kind, gentle, and sympathetic nature.

Synonyms

• Adjective (soft): Soft, succulent.
• Adjective (gentle): Gentle, kind, compassionate, affectionate, loving.
• Adjective (delicate): Delicate, fragile, sensitive, vulnerable.
• Noun (offer): Bid, proposal, offer, submission.
• Verb (offer): Offer, present, submit, proffer.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Tender for (something): To make a formal bid or offer for a contract.
  • We are tendering for the design work.

Related Idioms

• At a tender age: When someone is very young.
  • She left home at a tender age.
• A tender spot/topic: A subject that causes someone emotional pain or is sensitive to discuss.
  • His father's death is still a tender spot for him.
• Tender loving care (TLC): Kind and gentle care and attention.
  • The old car needs some tender loving care to get it running again.

Adjective

1. (of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition
   • tender green shoots
2. (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
3. physically untoughened
   • tender feet
4. easy to cut or chew
   • tender beef
5. having or displaying warmth or affection
   • affectionate children
   • a fond embrace
   • fond of his nephew
   • a tender glance
   • a warm embrace
6. young and immature
   • at a tender age
7. hurting
   • the tender spot on his jaw
8. given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
   • a tender heart
   • a tender smile
   • tender loving care
   • tender memories
   • a tender mother

Noun

1. ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
2. a boat for communication between ship and shore
3. car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
4. a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
5. someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
6. something that can be used as an official medium of payment

Verb

1. make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer
   • tenderize meat
2. make a tender of; in legal settlements
3. propose a payment
   • The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting
4. offer or present for acceptance