Tender meaning

What does “tender” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“tender” is a noun, verb and adjective with 18 meanings. Its most common meaning is: something that can be used as an official medium of payment.

tender

something that can be used as an official medium of payment
Synonymslegal tender stamp
someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
Synonymsattendant attender
a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
Synonymsbid
car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
a boat for communication between ship and shore
Synonymsship's boat pinnace cutter
ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
Synonymssupply ship

offer or present for acceptance
propose a payment
“The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting”
Synonymsoffer bid
make a tender of; in legal settlements
make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer
“tenderize meat”
Synonymstenderize tenderise

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
“a tender heart”
“a tender smile”
Oppositestough
hurting
“the tender spot on his jaw”
Synonymssensitive sore raw
young and immature
“at a tender age”
having or displaying warmth or affection
“affectionate children”
“a fond embrace”
Synonymsaffectionate fond lovesome
easy to cut or chew
“tender beef”
Oppositestough
physically untoughened
“tender feet”
Synonymsuntoughened
Oppositestough
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
Synonymscrank cranky tippy
(of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition
“tender green shoots”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University