Tender

adjective, tenderer, tenderest.
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 followed 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.
Nautical. crank2 (def 1).
verb (used with object)
15.
to make tender.
16.
Archaic. to regard or treat tenderly.
verb (used with object)
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, especially in exact accordance with the terms of the law and of the obligation.
verb (used without object)
4.
to make or submit a bid (often followed by for).
noun
5.
the act of tendering; an offer of something for acceptance.
6.
something tendered or offered, especially money, as in payment.
7.
Commerce. 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.
noun
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.
adjective
1.
easily broken, cut, or crushed; soft; not tough: a tender steak
2.
easily damaged; vulnerable or sensitive: a tender youth, at a tender age
3.
having or expressing warm and affectionate feelings: a tender smile
4.
kind, merciful, or sympathetic: a tender heart
5.
arousing warm feelings; touching: a tender memory
6.
gentle and delicate: a tender breeze
7.
requiring care in handling; ticklish: a tender question
8.
painful or sore: a tender wound
9.
sensitive to moral or spiritual feelings: a tender conscience
10.
(postpositive) foll by of. careful or protective: tender of one’s emotions
11.
(of a sailing vessel) easily keeled over by a wind; crank Compare stiff (sense 10)
verb
12.
(transitive) (rare)

to make tender
to treat tenderly

verb
1.
(transitive) to give, present, or offer: to tender one’s resignation, tender a bid
2.
(intransitive) foll by for. to make a formal offer or estimate for (a job or contract)
3.
(transitive) (law) to offer (money or goods) in settlement of a debt or claim
noun
4.
the act or an instance of tendering; offer
5.
(commerce) a formal offer to supply specified goods or services at a stated cost or rate
6.
something, esp money, used as an official medium of payment: legal tender
noun
1.
a small boat, such as a dinghy, towed or carried by a yacht or ship
2.
a vehicle drawn behind a steam locomotive to carry the fuel and water
3.
an ancillary vehicle used to carry supplies, spare parts, etc, for a mobile operation, such as an outside broadcast
4.
a person who tends

tender ten·der (těn’dər)
adj. ten·der·er, ten·der·est

Easily crushed or bruised; fragile.

Easily hurt; sensitive.

Painful; sore.

see: leave to someone’s tender mercies