adj · adv · noun · verb · 48 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈtɛn.dəː/
Received-Pronunciation:[ˈthɛn.dəː]
General-American:/ˈtɛn.dɚ/
General-American:[ˈthɛn.dɚ] ~ [ˈthɛn.dɹ̩]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:T EH1 N D ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Sensitive or painful to the touch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
tender plants
tender flesh
tender fruit
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Physically weak; not able to endure hardship.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Soft and easily chewed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Fond, loving, gentle, or sweet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Suzanne was such a tender mother to her children.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adj
Meaning 7
Young and inexperienced.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I first had a girlfriend at the tender age of seven.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adj
Meaning 8
Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
adj
Meaning 9
Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a tender subject
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
adj
Meaning 10
Heeling over too easily when under sail; said of a vessel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
adj
Meaning 11
Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
adj
Meaning 12
Careful to keep inviolate, or not to injure; used with of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
adv
Meaning 13
tenderly
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
Care, kind concern, regard.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
The inner flight muscle (pectoralis minor) of poultry.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
A railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel and water.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
A naval ship that functions as a mobile base for other ships.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
Examples
submarine tender
destroyer tender
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
noun
Meaning 18
A smaller boat used for transportation between a large ship and the shore.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dinghy
Antonyms: none provided
19
noun
Meaning 19
A member of a diving team who assists a diver during a dive but does not themselves go underwater.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: diving, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
noun
Meaning 20
Ellipsis of water tender (“firefighting apparatus”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
noun
Meaning 21
Someone who tends or waits on something or someone.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: archaic outside certain compounds
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: person
22
noun
Meaning 22
Anything which is offered, proffered, put forth or bid with the expectation of a response, answer, or reply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
You offer me the sword of my father, the very man whose bones, because of your perfidy, lie under the sod of Crecy. Aye, I'll surely take it, and just as surely you shall die with your tender through your heart!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
23
noun
Meaning 23
A means of payment such as a check or cheque, cash or credit card.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Your credit card has been declined so you need to provide some other tender such as cash.
legal tender
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
24
noun
Meaning 24
A formal offer to buy or sell something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
Examples
We will submit our tender to you within the week.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
25
noun
Meaning 25
Any offer or proposal made for acceptance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
26
verb
Meaning 26
To make tender or delicate; to weaken.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
27
verb
Meaning 27
To feel tenderly towards; to regard fondly or with consideration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
28
verb
Meaning 28
To work on a tender.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
29
verb
Meaning 29
To offer, to give.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: formal
Examples
to tender one’s resignation
1864 November 21, Abraham Lincoln (signed) or John Hay, letter to Mrs. Bixby in Boston I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
30
verb
Meaning 30
To offer a payment, as at sales or auctions; to bid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
31
adjective
Meaning 31
easy to cut or chew
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
tender beef
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: tough
32
adjective
Meaning 32
physically untoughened
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
tender feet
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: untoughened
Antonyms: tough
33
adjective
Meaning 33
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a tender heart
a tender smile
tender loving care
tender memories
a tender mother
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: tough
34
adjective satellite
Meaning 34
(of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
tender green shoots
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
35
adjective satellite
Meaning 35
having or displaying warmth or affection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
affectionate children
a fond embrace
fond of his nephew
a tender glance
a warm embrace
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: affectionate, fond, lovesome, warm
Antonyms: none provided
36
adjective satellite
Meaning 36
young and immature
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
at a tender age
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
37
adjective satellite
Meaning 37
hurting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the tender spot on his jaw
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sensitive, sore, raw
Antonyms: none provided
38
adjective satellite
Meaning 38
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: crank, cranky, tippy
Antonyms: none provided
39
noun
Meaning 39
ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: supply ship
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ship
40
noun
Meaning 40
a boat for communication between ship and shore
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ship's boat, pinnace, cutter
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: boat
Narrower terms: gig
41
noun
Meaning 41
car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: car, railcar, railway car, railroad car
42
noun
Meaning 42
a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bid
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: offer, offering
Narrower terms: overbid, buyout bid
43
noun
Meaning 43
someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.