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¹tender

adjective ten·der \ˈten-dər\

: very loving and gentle : showing affection and love for someone or something

of food : easy to chew or bite : not tough

: painful when touched

Full Definition of TENDER

a : having a soft or yielding texture : easily broken, cut, or damaged : delicate, fragile <tender feet>

b : easily chewed : succulent

a : physically weak : not able to endure hardship

b : immature, young <children of tender age>

c : incapable of resisting cold : not hardy <tender perennials>

: marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer emotions : fond, loving <a tender lover>

a : showing care : considerate, solicitous <tender regard>

b : highly susceptible to impressions or emotions : impressionable <a tender conscience>

a : appropriate or conducive to a delicate or sensitive constitution or character : gentle, mild <tender breeding> <tender irony>

b : delicate or soft in quality or tone <never before heard the piano sound so tender — Elva S. Daniels>

obsolete : dear, precious

a : sensitive to touch or palpation <the bruise was still tender>

b : sensitive to injury or insult : touchy <tender pride>

c : demanding careful and sensitive handling : ticklish <a tender situation>

d of a boat : easily tipped by an external force

— ten·der·ly adverb

— ten·der·ness noun

See tender defined for English-language learners

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Origin of TENDER

Middle English, from Anglo-French tendre, from Latin tener; perhaps akin to Latin tenuis thin, slight — more at thin

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TENDER

Synonyms: delicate, fragile, frail, sensitive

Antonyms: tough

Rhymes with TENDER

bender, blender, fender, gender, lender, mender, render, sender, slender, spender, splendor, vendor

²tender

noun

Definition of TENDER

obsolete

: consideration, regard

Origin of TENDER

¹tender

First Known Use: 13th century

³tender

verb

ten·deredten·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of TENDER

transitive verb

: to make tender : soften, weaken

archaic : to regard or treat with tenderness

intransitive verb

: to become tender

First Known Use of TENDER

14th century

⁴tender

verb

ten·deredten·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of TENDER

transitive verb

: to make a tender of

: to present for acceptance : offer <tendered my resignation>

intransitive verb

: to make a bid or tender

Origin of TENDER

Middle English tendren, from Anglo-French tendre offer

First Known Use: 15th century

⁵tender

noun, often attributive

Definition of TENDER

: an unconditional offer of money or service in satisfaction of a debt or obligation made to save a penalty or forfeiture for nonpayment or nonperformance

: an offer or proposal made for acceptance: as

a : an offer of a bid for a contract

b : tender offer

: something that may be offered in payment; specifically : money

Origin of TENDER

Middle English tendur grant of a license, from Anglo-French tendre offer, tender, from tendre, verb, to stretch, hold out, offer, direct, from Latin tendere to stretch, direct — more at thin

First Known Use: circa 1543

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

⁶tender

noun tend·er \ˈten-dər\

Definition of TENDER

: one that tends: as

a (1) : a ship employed to attend other ships (as to supply provisions) (2) : a boat for communication or transportation between shore and a larger ship (3) : a warship that provides logistic support

b : a car attached to a steam locomotive for carrying a supply of fuel and water