tender 1
— tenderly , adv. — tenderness , n.
/ten"deuhr/ , adj., tenderer, tenderest , v.
adj.
1. soft or delicate in substance; not hard or tough: a tender steak.
2. weak or delicate in constitution; not strong or hardy.
3. (of plants) unable to withstand freezing temperatures.
4. young or immature: children of tender age.
5. delicate or soft in quality: tender blue.
6. delicate, soft, or gentle: the tender touch of her hand.
7. easily moved to sympathy or compassion; kind: a tender heart.
8. affectionate or loving; sentimental or amatory: a tender glance.
9. considerate or careful; chary or reluctant (usually fol. by of ).
10. acutely or painfully sensitive: a tender bruise.
11. easily distressed; readily made uneasy: a tender conscience.
12. yielding readily to force or pressure; easily broken; fragile.
13. of a delicate or ticklish nature; requiring careful or tactful handling: a tender subject.
14. Naut. crank 2 (def. 1).
v.t.
15. to make tender.
16. Archaic. to regard or treat tenderly.
[ 1175-1225; ME, var. of tendre tenerum, acc. of tener tender ]
tender 2
— tenderer , n.
/ten"deuhr/ , v.t.
1. to present formally for acceptance; make formal offer of: to tender one's resignation.
2. to offer or proffer.
3. Law. to offer, as money or goods, in payment of a debt or other obligation, esp. in exact accordance with the terms of the law and of the obligation.
v.i.
4. to make or submit a bid (often fol. by for ).
n.
5. the act of tendering; an offer of something for acceptance.
6. something tendered or offered, esp. money, as in payment.
7. Com. an offer made in writing by one party to another to execute certain work, supply certain commodities, etc., at a given cost; bid.
8. Law. an offer, as of money or goods, in payment or satisfaction of a debt or other obligation.
[ 1535-45; earlier tendre, n. use of AF tendre to extend, offer. See TEND 1 ]
Syn. 1. See offer. 5. proposal, proffer.
tender 3
/ten"deuhr/ , n.
1. a person who tends; a person who attends to or takes charge of someone or something.
2. an auxiliary ship employed to attend one or more other ships, as for supplying provisions.
3. a dinghy carried or towed by a yacht.
4. Railroads. a car attached to a steam locomotive for carrying fuel and water.
[ 1425-75; late ME; orig. aph. var. of attender; see TEND 2 , -ER 1 ]