1. Easy to cut or chew
   "tender beef"
    
2. Not physically toughened
   "tender feet";
   - untoughened
    
3. Having or displaying warmth or affection
   "a tender glance";
   - affectionate, fond, lovesome [archaic]
    
4. Given to sympathy, gentleness or sentimentality
   "tender loving care"; "tender memories"; "a tender mother"; "a tender heart"; "a tender smile"
    
5. Young and immature
   "at a tender age"
    
6. (of body tissue or a wound) painful, inflamed, or easily hurt
   "the tender spot on his jaw";
   - sensitive, sore, raw
    
7. (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
   "The small, tender sailing boat required careful handling in strong winds";
   - crank, cranky [informal], tippy
    
8. (of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition
   "tender green shoots"

1. Someone who waits on or attends to the needs of another
   "The flight tender ensured all passengers were comfortable";
   - attendant, attender
    
2. Ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
   "The naval fleet was accompanied by a tender to ensure they had enough provisions for the long voyage";
   - supply ship
    
3. A boat for communication between ship and shore
   "The captain used the tender to ferry important guests to and from the cruise liner";
   - ship's boat, pinnace, cutter
    
4. Car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
   "The steam engine's tender was filled with coal for the long journey"
    
5. Something that can be used as an official medium of payment
   "US dollar bills are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues";
   - legal tender
    
6. A formal proposal to buy at a specified price
   "The company submitted a tender for the construction project";
   - bid

1. Offer or present for acceptance
   "He tendered his resignation to the board"
    
2. Propose an amount you are prepared to pay for something
   "The Swiss dealer tendered $2 million for the painting";
   - offer, bid
    
3. Make a tender of; in legal settlements
   "The company tendered an offer to settle the lawsuit"
    
4. Make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer
   "tender meat";
   - tenderize, tenderise [Brit]

Derived forms: tendered, tenderer, tenderest, tendering, tenders

See also: chewable, comestible [rare], crisp, crispy, crunchy, cuttable, delicate, eatable, edible, esculent, flakey, flaky, immature, lovey-dovey [informal], loving, painful, protective, sentimental, soft, tenderised [Brit], tenderized, unstable, weak, young

Type of: advise, aid, alter, assistant, boat, bogie [Asia], car, change, gift, give, help, helper, medium of exchange, modify, monetary system, offer, offering, present, proffer, propose, railcar, railroad car [N. Amer], railway car [Brit, Cdn], railway carriage [Brit, Cdn], ship, suggest, supporter

Antonym: tough

Encyclopedia: Tender