EnglishMain Dictionary
tender
Universal Words
adjective, noun, verb
adjective (tenderer, tenderest)
HELPNOTE more tender and most tender are also common
1 kind, gentle and loving:
tender words / looks / kisses * What he needs now is a lot of tender loving care (= sympathetic treatment).
2 (of food) easy to bite through and cut:
This meat is extremely tender. * Boil the beans until they are tender.
OPPTOUGH
3 (of part of the body) painful when you touch it
SYNSORE:
My leg is still very tender where I banged it.
4 easily hurt or damaged
SYNDELICATE:
tender young plants
tenderly adverb
tenderness noun [U]
IDIOMS
at a tender age