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tender1

Pronunciation: /ˈtɛndə/

Translate tender | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of tender

adjective (tenderer, tenderest)

  • 1showing gentleness, kindness, and affection:he was being so kind and tender she covered his face with tender kisses
  • (tender of) archaic solicitous of:be tender of a lady’s reputation
  • 2(of a part of the body) sensitive to pain:the pale, tender skin of her forearm
  • (of a plant) easily injured by severe weather and therefore needing protection: pelargoniums are colourful but tender plants
  • requiring tact or careful handling:the issue of conscription was a particularly tender one
  • 3(of food) easy to cut or chew; not tough:tender green beans
  • 4young, inexperienced, or vulnerable:he started sailing at the tender age of ten
  • 5 Nautical (of a ship) leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind.

Phrases

tender mercies

used ironically to refer to attention or treatment not in the best interests of its recipients:they abandoned their children to the tender mercies of the social services

Derivatives

tenderly

adverb

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener 'tender, delicate'

tender in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of tender in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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