tender

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɛn.dɚ/ UK /ˈtɛn.də(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #4960

Meanings

1

adj
Gentle, kind, and loving.

She gave the baby a tender kiss on the forehead.
2

adj
(of food, especially meat) Soft and easy to cut or chew.

The steak was so tender it almost melted in my mouth.
3

adj
Sore and painful when touched.

My arm felt tender where I had bumped it.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · (of food, especially meat)... chewable

3 adj · sore and painful when touched. sore

More nesh offer

Word family

Forms tenderedtenderertenderesttenderheartedtenderingtenders

Derived forms budtendere-tenderfork-tenderfrost-tendertender-firsttender-handedtenderabletenderfoottenderheartedtenderisetenderize tenderly

Etymology

From Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”).

tender Middle English tendre Old French tener Latin

View etymology graph ->

External links

# tender

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɛn.dɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɛn.də(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 4960

## Meanings
1. Gentle, kind, and loving.
2. (of food, especially meat) Soft and easy to cut or chew.
3. Sore and painful when touched.

## Examples
- She gave the baby a tender kiss on the forehead.
- The steak was so tender it almost melted in my mouth.
- My arm felt tender where I had bumped it.

## Synonyms
- nesh
- offer

## Derived Forms
- budtender
- e-tender
- fork-tender
- frost-tender
- tender-first
- tender-handed
- tenderable
- tenderfoot
- tenderhearted
- tenderise
- tenderize
- tenderly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: tender
- Root: tendre
- Root: tener

## Etymology
From Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”).

## AI Etymology
Tender is from Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”). In present-day use, it can mean gentle, kind, and loving, or (of food, especially meat) Soft and easy to cut or chew. Derived formations include budtender, e-tender, fork-tender, frost-tender, tender-first.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Food & Drink

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tender

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