Tender
'tendər
Definitions
5 meaningsShowing gentleness, kindness, and affection; easily hurt or damaged; soft and delicate.
'tendər
Showing gentleness and affection.
The mother gave her child a tender hug.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend is feeling down. A 'tender' moment would be when you give them a warm hug and tell them everything's going to be okay. It means being kind and gentle, like when you're careful with a baby bird.
👶 For kids: Being nice and gentle, like when you give a soft hug.
More Examples
He has a tender heart and cares for the elderly.
Be careful; the flower is very tender.
How It's Used
"He gave her a tender kiss."
"The knight treated the princess with tender care."
Easily hurt or damaged; sensitive.
'tendər
Easily hurt or damaged.
The burn was tender to the touch.
💡 Simply: If you bump your knee, and it hurts a lot when you touch it, that spot is 'tender'. It means it's sensitive and could be easily injured.
👶 For kids: If something is easily hurt or feels sore when you touch it.
More Examples
These plants are tender and need protection from the cold.
Her skin was very tender after the sunburn.
How It's Used
"These tender plants need to be protected from the frost."
"The doctor examined her and found the area was tender to the touch."
To formally offer (something, especially a bid or resignation).
'tendər
To offer formally.
The construction company tendered a bid for the project.
💡 Simply: When you 'tender' something, you're formally offering it. Like when a company 'tenders' a bid for a project or when you 'tender' your resignation to your job.
👶 For kids: To give something in a formal way.
More Examples
She tendered her resignation.
He tendered the money for the purchase.
How It's Used
"The company tendered a bid for the contract."
"He tendered his resignation."
A formal offer to do work or supply goods at a stated fixed price.
'tendər
A formal offer or bid.
The city received several tenders for the bridge repair.
💡 Simply: A 'tender' is like an offer to do a job or sell something at a specific price. When a company bids on building a new school, they make a tender.
👶 For kids: An offer to do something or buy something.
More Examples
The company's tender was the lowest bid.
The contract was awarded based on the best tender.
How It's Used
"The company submitted a low tender for the project."
"The construction company's tender was accepted."
A person or thing that looks after something; a vehicle attached to a train to supply fuel and water.
'tendər
A person or thing that looks after someone or something.
The train was powered by a steam engine and pulled a tender for the coal.
💡 Simply: Sometimes 'tender' refers to something that takes care of another thing. Like the car that follows a steam train and carries the coal to fuel it is the 'tender'. Or, like the nurses that 'tender' to the sick.
👶 For kids: Something that takes care of another thing, like a train's car that holds its fuel.
More Examples
The nurse acted as a tender to the patients.
How It's Used
"The train engine was assisted by a coal tender."
"The nurse acted as a tender for the patient."
Synonyms
Affectionate
Delicate
Gentle
Kind
Loving
Soft
Sensitive
Sore
Extend
Offer
Present
Propose
Submit
Bid
Proposal
Attendant
Caretaker
Provider
Servant
Supporter
Idioms & expressions
tender loving care
Kind and gentle care and attention.
"The nurses provided tender loving care to the patients."
From Old French tendre, from Latin tener, meaning 'soft, delicate'.
Used since the 13th century, evolving from a description of physical softness to emotional sensitivity and formal offerings.
Memory tip
Think of a mother's *tender* embrace for her child.