tender

tend|er1 [ `tendər ] adjective **

1. ) gentle in a way that shows that you care about someone or something:

Her voice was low and tender.

2. ) tender food is soft and easy to cut and eat:

Cook for an hour or until the meat is tender.

─ opposite TOUGH

3. ) if a part of your body is tender, it has been injured and is painful when you touch it

4. ) a tender plant is delicate and needs protection from bad weather

a tender age

a time in your life when you are still young and lack experience:

Tennis players start at a more tender age these days.

at the tender age of something: He was first elected at the tender age of 23.

tender loving care OFTEN HUMOROUS

the process of caring for someone or something with kindness and love: TLC:

Their garden is in need of a little tender loving care.

╾ ten|der|ly adverb

╾ ten|der|ness noun uncount

tender

tend|er 2 [ `tendər ] noun

1. ) count or uncount a formal written offer to provide goods or services for a particular price: BID:

The authorities have invited international tenders for the project.

a ) put something out to tender to ask people to say formally how much they would charge for doing something for you:

We have put the construction of the buildings out to tender.

2. ) count a small boat used for carrying people or goods to larger boats in a port

3. ) count the part of a train that contains the fuel and water for a STEAM ENGINE

tender

tend|er 3 [ `tendər ] verb

1. ) transitive FORMAL to formally offer something, usually in writing:

tender your resignation: The Deputy Prime Minister tendered his resignation Thursday.

2. ) intransitive tender for to make a formal written offer to provide goods or services for a particular price: BID:

The company has tendered for three new contracts.