tender
/'tendə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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.
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
- (of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition
- tender green shoots
- (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
- physically untoughened
- tender feet
- easy to cut or chew
- tender beef
- having or displaying warmth or affection
- affectionate children
- a fond embrace
- fond of his nephew
- a tender glance
- a warm embrace
- young and immature
- at a tender age
- hurting
- the tender spot on his jaw
- given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
- a tender heart
- a tender smile
- tender loving care
- tender memories
- a tender mother
Noun
- ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
- a boat for communication between ship and shore
- car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
- a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
- someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
- something that can be used as an official medium of payment
Verb
- make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer
- tenderize meat
- make a tender of; in legal settlements
- propose a payment
- The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting
- offer or present for acceptance