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tenderness

 - 8 dictionary results

ten⋅der

1  [ten-der] adjective, -er, -est, verb
Use tenderness in a Sentence
–adjective
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 fol. 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. crank 2 (def. 1).
–verb (used with object)
15. to make tender.
16. Archaic. to regard or treat tenderly.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME, var. of tendre < OF < L tenerum, acc. of tener tender

Related forms:
ten⋅der⋅ly, adverb
ten⋅der⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tenderness
ten·der 1   (těn'dər)   
adj.   ten·der·er, ten·der·est

    1. Easily crushed or bruised; fragile: a tender petal.

    2. Easily chewed or cut: tender beef.

    3. Easily hurt; sensitive: tender skin.

    4. Painful; sore: a tender tooth.

    5. Considerate and protective; solicitous: a tender mother; his tender concern.

    6. Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving: a tender glance; a tender ballad.

    7. Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft: a tender heart.

  2. Young and vulnerable: of tender age.

  3. Frail; delicate.

  4. Sensitive to frost or severe cold; not hardy: tender green shoots.

    1. Easily hurt; sensitive: tender skin.

    2. Painful; sore: a tender tooth.

    3. Considerate and protective; solicitous: a tender mother; his tender concern.

    4. Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving: a tender glance; a tender ballad.

    5. Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft: a tender heart.

    1. Considerate and protective; solicitous: a tender mother; his tender concern.

    2. Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving: a tender glance; a tender ballad.

    3. Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft: a tender heart.

  7. Nautical Likely to heel easily under sail; crank.

tr.v.   ten·dered, ten·der·ing, ten·ders

  1. To make tender.

  2. Archaic To treat with tender regard.


[Middle English, from Old French tendre, from Latin tener; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
ten'der·ly adv., ten'der·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

tender  (adj.)
"soft, easily injured," c.1225, from O.Fr. tendre "soft, delicate, tender" (11c.), from L. tenerem (nom. tener) "soft, delicate, of tender age," from PIE *ten- "stretch" (see tenet). Meaning "kind, affectionate, loving" first recorded c.1300. Meaning "having the delicacy of youth, immature" is attested from c.1330. Tender-hearted first recorded 1539. The verb tenderize is attested from 1733; specifically of food, recorded by 1935, originally Amer.Eng.; tenderizer is recorded from 1958.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

tender

To offer a security for sale to a party that is making an offer to buy it. For example, a stockholder may decide to tender shares to the issuing firm as part of the company's buyback. See also hedged tender.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: tender
Function: verb
Etymology: Anglo-French tendre to offer, propose for acceptance, literally, to stretch, hold out, from Old French, from Latin tendere
transitive verb 1 a : to make a tender of <tender goods> <tender delivery> <tender payment> <tender performance> b : to offer as an amount in settlement of a claim by an injured party against an insured
NOTE: An insurance company might be obligated to tender the limits of a policy to an injured party when a higher amount is likely to be awarded at trial.
2 : to extend for acceptance or consideration (as in proof of something) esp. in a proceeding <tender a plea to the court> <tender an issue>
3 : to offer for sale <tender shares> intransitive verb : to offer securities for sale tender>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ten·der
Pronunciation: 'ten-d&r
Function: adjective
: sensitive to touch or palpation <tender skin> tenderspleen> tender palpable kidney> —ten·der·ness /-n&s/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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

  1. Easily crushed or bruised; fragile.

  2. Easily hurt; sensitive.

  3. Painful; sore.

tenderness ten·der·ness (těn'dər-nĭs)
n.
The condition of being tender or sore to the touch.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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