tend|er

tend|er
ten|der1 «TEHN duhr», adjective, verb, noun.
–adj.
1. not hard or tough; soft: »

The meat is tender. Stones hurt the little child's tender feet.

2. a) not strong and hardy; delicate: »

tender young grass. The leaves in spring are green and tender.

SYNONYM(S): weak. b) soft; subdued: »

a tender blue.

SYNONYM(S): delicate.
3. kind; affectionate; loving: »

The mother spoke tender words to her baby. She sent tender messages to her friends.

SYNONYM(S): compassionate, merciful.
4. not rough or crude; gentle: »

He patted the dog with tender hands. The young plants need tender care.

SYNONYM(S): mild, sympathetic.
5. young; immature: »

Two years old is a tender age.

6. sensitive; painful; sore: »

a tender wound. The elbow joint is a tender spot.

7. a) feeling pain or grief easily: »

She has a tender heart and would never hurt anyone.

b) Figurative. sensitive to insult or injury; ready to take offense: »

a man of tender pride.

8. considerate or careful: »

He handles people in a tender manner.

9. Figurative. requiring careful or tactful handling: »

a tender situation. Automobiles are a tender subject with Dad since he wrecked his.

10. = crank2. (Cf.crank)
–v.t. Archaic.
1. to make tender.
2. to weaken.
3. to feel or act tenderly toward.
–v.i.
Obsolete. to become tender.
–n.
Obsolete. care; regard; concern.
[Middle English tendre soft, delicate < Old French, earlier tenre < Latin tener]
ten´der|a|ble, adjective.
ten´der|ly, adverb.
ten|der2 «TEHN duhr», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to offer formally: »

to tender one's resignation. He tendered his thanks.

SYNONYM(S): proffer, present. See syn. under offer. (Cf.offer)
2. Law. to offer (as money or goods) in payment of a debt or her obligation.
–n.
1. a formal offer: »

She refused his tender of marriage.

SYNONYM(S): proposal, proffer, overture.
2. the thing offered. Money that must be accepted as payment for a debt is called legal tender.
3. Law. an offer of, as of money or goods, to satisfy a debt or liability.
4. Commerce. a bid to supply or purchase: »

All tenders must be enclosed in sealed envelopes (Cape Times).

[< Middle French tendre to offer < Latin tendere extend. See etym. of doublet tend1. (Cf.tend)]
ten´der|er, noun.
tend|er3 «TEHN duhr», noun.
1. a person or thing that tends another: »

a machine tender. He did not like his job as baby tender.

2. a) a boat or small ship used for carrying supplies and passengers to and from larger ships. b) a small boat carried on or towed behind a larger boat or a ship for similar use.
3. the small car that carries wood, coal and water, or oil, attached behind a locomotive.
[probably < tend2 + -er1]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • tend — tend …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • tend — [ tend ] verb *** 1. ) intransitive to usually do a particular thing: tend to do something: He tends to exaggerate. The gym tends to get very busy at around six o clock. We tend to take technology for granted nowadays. These arguments tend merely …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Tend — Tend, v. i. [F. tendre, L. tendere, tensum and tentum, to stretch, extend, direct one s course, tend; akin to Gr. ? to stretch, Skr. tan. See {Thin}, and cf. {Tend} to attend, {Contend}, {Intense}, {Ostensible}, {Portent}, {Tempt}, {Tender} to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tend — Tend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tending}.] [Aphetic form of attend. See {Attend}, {Tend} to move, and cf. {Tender} one that tends or attends.] 1. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tend — W1S1 [tend] v [Sense: 1, 3, 5; Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: tendre to stretch , from Latin tendere] [Sense: 2, 4; Date: 1100 1200; Origin: attend] 1.) tend to do sth if something tends to happen, it happens often and is likely to happen …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tend — tend1 [tend] vt. [ME tenden, aphetic < attenden: see ATTEND] 1. to take care of; minister to; watch over; look after; attend to [to tend plants or animals, to tend the sick] 2. to be in charge of or at work at; manage or operate [to tend a… …   English World dictionary

  • tend — /tend/ verb 1 tend to do sth to often do a particular thing, especially something that is bad or annoying, and to be likely to do it again: Sally tends to interfere in other people s business. | The car does tend to overheat. 2 tend towards sth… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • tend — tend, attend, mind, watch are comparable when they mean to take charge of or look after someone or something especially as a duty or in return for remuneration. Tend usually retains some notion of an earlier sense in which it means to pay… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • tend*/*/*/ — [tend] verb 1) [I] to usually do a particular thing He tends to exaggerate.[/ex] I tend not to go out so much in the winter.[/ex] 2) [I/T] to take care of someone or something Eddie kept himself busy tending the garden.[/ex] Doctors were tending… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • Tend — Tend, v. i. 1. To wait, as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend; with on or upon. [1913 Webster] Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. [F. attendre.] To await; to expect. [Obs.]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tend — Ⅰ. tend [1] ► VERB 1) frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic. 2) go or move in a particular direction. ORIGIN Latin tendere stretch, tend . Ⅱ. tend [2] ► …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”