tender
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.showing gentleness, kindness, or love.
adj.expressing or characterized by gentleness, affection, or sentimental solicitude.
Simple“He gave his daughter a tender hug before she went to school.”
In context“The letter was written in a tender tone, reflecting the deep affection the two friends had shared over several decades.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.soft and easy to cut or eat, especially meat.
adj.of food, easily chewed or cut; not tough or fibrous.
Simple“The steak was so tender that you could cut it with a butter knife.”
In context“Slow-cooking the brisket at a low temperature for eight hours ensures the muscle fibres break down until the meat is perfectly tender.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.feeling sore or painful when someone touches it.
adj.sensitive to touch or pressure, typically due to injury or inflammation.
Simple“My ankle is still a bit tender after I tripped yesterday.”
In context“The patient reported that the area around the incision remained tender, though the sharp pain had subsided since the surgery.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.a formal offer to do a job or provide goods for a specific price.
n.a formal written offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy an asset at a stated price.
Simple“The city council invited companies to submit a tender for the new bridge project.”
In context“The construction firm spent weeks preparing their tender, ensuring every technical specification and cost estimate met the government's strict requirements.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.something used as money or a way to pay.
n.anything offered as a means of payment; most commonly seen in the phrase 'legal tender'.
Simple“In many countries, coins and banknotes are the only form of legal tender.”
In context“The shop refused to accept the damaged banknote, arguing that it no longer qualified as valid legal tender under national regulations.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
n.a small boat that carries people or supplies between a big ship and the shore.
n.a small vessel used to attend a larger one, typically for transporting stores or passengers.
Simple“The cruise ship was too big for the small harbour, so we took a tender to the beach.”
In context“The yacht's tender was deployed to ferry the guests from the offshore anchorage to the private jetty for the evening gala.”
Synonymsdinghyskiff - 07 C1 Advanced
v.to offer something officially, like your resignation or a payment.
v.to offer or present something formally for acceptance. Transitive; typically takes a direct object like 'resignation' or 'payment'.
Simple“The manager decided to tender his resignation after the company was sold.”
In context“The defendant attempted to tender the full amount of the debt to the court, hoping to avoid further litigation costs.”
“During this hormonal shift, your body holds on to more fluids, meaning you may end up with a puffier face, general bloating and tender, swollen breasts.”
“This tender picture book perfectly evokes the love, humour and exhaustion of managing a day’s chores with an enthusiastic toddler.”
From Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”).
From Middle English tender, tendur, tendir, tendre, from the adjective (see above).
From Middle English tendren, from the adjective (see above).
From tend + -er. Compare attender (“one who attends”).
From Middle English tendren, from Old French tendre (“stretch out”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.