tender

views updated May 14 2018

ten·der1 / ˈtendər/ • adj. (-der·er, -der·est) 1. showing gentleness and concern or sympathy: he was being so kind and tender. ∎  (tender of) archaic solicitous of; concerned for: be tender of a lady's reputation.2. (of food) easy to cut or chew; not tough: tender green beans. ∎  (of a plant) easily injured by severe weather and therefore needing protection. ∎  (of a part of the body) sensitive to pain: the pale, tender skin of her forearm. ∎  young, immature, and vulnerable: at the tender age of five. ∎  requiring tact or careful handling: the issue of conscription was a particularly tender one. ∎ Naut. (of a ship) leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind.PHRASES: tender mercies used ironically to imply that someone cannot be trusted to look after or treat someone else kindly or well: they have abandoned their children to the tender mercies of the social services.DERIVATIVES: ten·der·ly adv.ten·der·ness n.ten·der2 • v. [tr.] offer or present (something) formally: he tendered his resignation as leader. ∎  offer (money) as payment: she tendered her fare. ∎  [intr.] make a formal written offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy land, shares, or another asset for a stated fixed price: firms of interior decorators have been tendering for the work. ∎  [tr.] make such an offer giving (a stated fixed price): what price should we tender for a contract?• n. an offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy land, shares, or another asset at a stated fixed price.PHRASES: put something out to tender seek offers to carry out work or supply goods at a stated fixed price.DERIVATIVES: ten·der·er n.ten·der3 • n. 1. [usu. in comb.] a person who looks after someone else or a machine or place: Alexei signaled to one of the engine tenders.2. a boat used to ferry people and supplies to and from a ship.3. a railcar coupled to a steam locomotive to carry fuel and water.

Tender

views updated May 18 2018

TENDER

An offer of money; the act by which one individual offers someone who is holding a claim or demand against him or her the amount of money that the offeror regards and admits is due, in order to satisfy the claim or demand, in the absence of any contingency or stipulation attached to the offer.

The two essential characteristics of tender are an unconditional offer to perform, together with manifested ability to do so, and the production of the subject matter of tender. The term is generally used in reference to an offer to pay money; however, it may properly be used in reference to an offer of other kinds of property.

cross-references

Tender Offer.

tender

views updated May 23 2018

tender tender mercies used ironically to refer to attention or treatment not in the best interests of its recipients (perhaps in biblical allusion to Proverbs 12:10, ‘the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel’).
tender passion romantic love; the term dates from the late 18th century and is first recorded in Sheridan's Duenna (1775).

tender

views updated May 23 2018

tender1 easily broken or injured XIII; having delicacy of feeling; susceptible to moral or spiritual influences XVI. — (O)F. tendre :- L. tener tender, delicate.

tender

views updated May 23 2018

tender2 offer for acceptance. XVI. — (O)F. tendre :- L. tendere stretch, hold forth (cf. TEND2).
Hence sb. XVI.