Webster's English Dictionary

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tender

1. ten.der \'ten-d*r\ aj [ME, fr. OF tendre, fr. L tener] 1a: having a soft 
   or yielding texture : easily broken, cut, or damaged :: DELICATE, FRAGILE 
   {~ feet} 1b: easily chewed : SUCCULENT  2a: physically weak : not able to 
   endure hardship  2b: IMMATURE, YOUNG {children of ~ years}  2c: incapable 
   of resisting cold  3: marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer 
   emotions : FOND , LOVING {a ~ lover} 4a: showing care : CONSIDERATE, 
   SOLICITOUS  4b: highly susceptible to impressions or emotions : 
   IMPRESSIONABLE  {a ~ conscience} 5a: appropriate or conducive to a delicate 
   or sensitive constitution or ch aracter : GENTLE, MILD {~ breeding ~ irony} 
   5b: delicate or soft in quality or tone  obs  6: DEAR, PRECIOUS  7a: 
   sensitive to touch or palpation  7b: sensitive to injury or insult : TOUCHY 
    7c: demanding careful and sensitive handling : TICKLISH  of a ship  7d: 
   inclined to heel over easily under sail  - ten.der.ly av
2. tender \-d(*-)rin\ vb or ten.der.ing 1: to make tender : SOFTEN, WEAKEN  
   archaic  2: to regard or treat with tenderness  : to become tender 
3. tender n [1tender] obs  : CONSIDERATION, REGARD 
4. tend.er \'ten-d*r\ n : one that tends or takes care : as  : a ship 
   employed to attend other ships (as to supply provisions)  : a boat or small 
   steamer for communication between shore and a larger s hip : a warship that 
   provides logistic support  : a vehicle attached to a locomotive for 
   carrying a supply of fuel and wa ter
5. ten.der n [MF tendre to stretch, stretch out, offer - more at TEND] 1: 
   an unconditional offer of money or service in satisfaction of a debt or  
   obligation made to save a penalty or forfeiture for nonpayment or 
   nonperformance 2: an offer or proposal made for acceptance; specif : an 
   offer of a  bid for a contract 3: something that may be offered in payment; 
   specif : MONEY 
6. ten.der \-d(*-)rin\ vt or ten.der.ing 1: to make a tender of {~ the 
   amount of rent}  2: to present for acceptance : PROFFER {~ed his resi 
   gnation}