/ ˈtendə(r); NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective ( ten·derer , ten·derest )
HELP NOTE : more tender and most tender are also common
1.
kind, gentle and loving :
tender words
What he needs now is a lot of tender loving care (= sympathetic treatment) .
2.
( of food ) easy to bite through and cut :
This meat is extremely tender.
OPP tough
3.
( of part of the body ) painful when you touch it
SYN sore
4.
easily hurt or damaged
SYN delicate :
tender young plants
► ten·der·ly adverb
► ten·der·ness noun [ U ]
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IDIOMS
- at a tender age | at the tender age of ...
■ noun
1.
a formal offer to supply goods or do work at a stated price
SYN bid :
Cleaning services have been put out to tender (= companies have been asked to make offers to supply these services) .
a competitive tender
2.
a truck attached to a steam engine, carrying fuel and water
3.
a small boat, used for carrying people or goods between a larger boat and land
■ verb
1.
[ v ] ~ (for sth) to make a formal offer to supply goods or do work at a stated price :
Local firms were invited to tender for the building contract.
2.
[ vn ] ~ sth (to sb) ( formal ) to offer or give sth to sb :
He has tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister.
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective Middle English : from Old French tendre , from Latin tener tender, delicate.
verb and noun sense 1 mid 16th cent. (as a legal term meaning formally offer a plea or evidence, or money to discharge a debt , also as a noun denoting such an offer): from Old French tendre , from Latin tendere to stretch, hold forth.
noun senses 2 to 3 late Middle English (in the sense attendant, nurse ): from tend (senses 3 and 4) or shortening of attender (see attend ).