tender meaning and definition

TENDER noun

Definition of tender (noun)

1. something that can be used as an official medium of payment
   • synonyms: legal tender, stamp
2. someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
   • synonyms: attendant, attender
3. a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
   • synonyms: bid
4. car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
5. a boat for communication between ship and shore
   • synonyms: cutter, pinnace, ship's boat
6. ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
   • synonyms: supply ship

TENDER verb

Definition of tender (verb)

1. offer or present for acceptance
2. propose a payment
   • "The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting"
   • synonyms: bid, offer
3. make a tender of; in legal settlements
4. make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer
   • "tenderize meat"
   • synonyms: tenderise, tenderize

TENDER adjective

Definition of tender (adjective)

1. given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
   • "a tender heart"; "a tender smile"; "tender loving care"; "tender memories"; "a tender mother"
   • antonym: tough
2. hurting
   • "the tender spot on his jaw"
   • synonyms: raw, sensitive, sore
3. young and immature
   • "at a tender age"
4. having or displaying warmth or affection
   • "affectionate children"; "a fond embrace"; "fond of his nephew"; "a tender glance"; "a warm embrace"
   • synonyms: affectionate, fond, lovesome, warm
5. easy to cut or chew
   • "tender beef"
   • antonym: tough
6. physically untoughened
   • "tender feet"
   • synonyms: untoughened
   • antonym: tough
7. (used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
   • synonyms: crank, cranky, tippy
8. (of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition
   • "tender green shoots"