tender
tender — adjective
- tenderpositive
- tenderercomparative
- tenderestsuperlative
1. showing warmth, care, and gentle affection toward someone you love or feel close
showing warmth, care, and gentle affection toward someone you love or feel close to — the way a parent holds a baby or a person speaks to a sick friend.
Rania gave her grandmother a tender hug before leaving for school.
collocation: tender hug / tender kiss
The nurse spoke to the elderly patient in a tender voice.
collocation: tender voice
Christopher wrote a tender letter to his wife while he was away.
There was a tender moment between the father and his daughter at the wedding.
- affectionate
more active in showing love through behavior; slightly more formal
- gentle
broader, can describe touch or nature without the emotional warmth
- loving
stronger emotional bond; can describe relationships as well as actions
用法筆記
Describes actions, words, or looks directed at another person. Usually not used to describe a person's general character (use 'kind' or 'gentle' instead).
常見錯誤
2. used when a body part hurts when you press or move it, often after an injury, il
used when a body part hurts when you press or move it, often after an injury, illness, or overuse — for instance, a bruised arm or tired muscles after a workout.
Greta's shoulder was still tender a week after she fell off her bike.
The doctor gently pressed the tender area around Liang's ankle.
collocation: tender area
After the long run, Ishaan's leg muscles felt tender and sore.
You should avoid putting weight on that tender knee until it heals.
- pain-free
without any hurt or discomfort
文法句型
tender + body part
be tender when touched
用法筆記
Subject is always a body part (or 'area' referring to a body part). Frequently used with 'still' to indicate ongoing pain after an injury.
常見錯誤
3. describing cooked meat or vegetables so soft that you can slice and chew them wi
describing cooked meat or vegetables so soft that you can slice and chew them with little effort — the opposite of tough or hard textures.
The beef was so tender that it fell apart with just a fork.
pattern: so + tender + that-clause
Romi roasted the chicken until the meat was tender and juicy.
collocation: tender and juicy
A tender piece of fish should flake easily when you press it.
The carrots were tender after boiling them for twenty minutes.
Brian prefers his steak tender rather than well-done and tough.
- tough
hard to cut or chew; the direct opposite for meat
文法句型
tender + meat / vegetable
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in cooking contexts. When describing meat, 'tender' contrasts with 'tough'. For vegetables, it overlaps with 'soft' but carries a positive quality judgment.
常見錯誤
4. vulnerable to frost and low temperatures, physical force, or harsh conditions —
vulnerable to frost and low temperatures, physical force, or harsh conditions — used especially about young plants, shoots, or seedlings that need protection.
Tender young plants should be brought indoors when frost is expected.
collocation: tender young plants
Amani covered the tender seedlings with a cloth to protect them from the cold.
These flowers are too tender to survive a harsh winter outdoors.
The gardener moved the tender herbs into the greenhouse before the storm.
文法句型
tender + plant / shoot / seedling
用法筆記
Primarily a gardening term. When extended to non-plant contexts, it describes anything that cannot withstand rough treatment or harsh environments.
5. at a young age, especially when the person lacks the maturity or experience that
at a young age, especially when the person lacks the maturity or experience that comes with being older — often used in the phrase 'at a tender age' to show concern or sympathy.
Sofia left home at the tender age of seventeen to study abroad.
fixed phrase: at the tender age of
The children were sent to boarding school at a tender age.
Losing a parent at such a tender age can affect a child deeply.
The pianist had already performed in public at the tender age of nine.
- young
neutral; lacks the emotional tone of concern that 'tender' carries
- impressionable
focuses on being easily influenced rather than age itself
- mature
fully grown or developed in age and judgment
- advanced in years
formal; referring to old age
文法句型
tender + age noun (tender age)
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed expression 'at a tender age' or 'at the tender age of [number]'. Carries a tone of sympathy, concern, or mild surprise that someone so young did something.
常見錯誤
tender — noun
- tendersingular
- tendersplural
1. a formal written offer to provide goods, services, or complete a project at a st
a formal written offer to provide goods, services, or complete a project at a stated price — usually submitted in response to an invitation in business or government.
Three construction companies submitted tenders for the new hospital project.
collocation: submit a tender
The city council put the cleaning contract out to tender last month.
fixed phrase: put [something] out to tender
Lakan's company won the tender to supply office furniture to the school.
All tenders must be received by the government office before Friday.
文法句型
submit a tender
put out to tender
用法筆記
Common in business and government contexts. 'Put out to tender' means inviting companies to bid. 'Win a tender' means your offer is accepted.
常見錯誤
2. a formal proposal to purchase company stock at a set price, typically during a t
a formal proposal to purchase company stock at a set price, typically during a takeover bid or a share sale.
The board rejected the tender offer of forty dollars per share.
collocation: tender offer
Shareholders can accept the tender and sell their stocks next week.
Ilhan reviewed the tender document before deciding to sell his shares.
A rival company made a tender offer to buy thirty percent of the firm.
- bid
more general term for an offer to buy; 'tender offer' is the specific legal term
- takeover bid
specifically for acquiring a controlling stake in a company
文法句型
tender offer
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the term 'tender offer' — a specific financial procedure. Not used in everyday conversation about buying or selling shares on the stock exchange.
3. the process of asking companies to compete for a project by submitting prices an
the process of asking companies to compete for a project by submitting prices and plans; the system through which contracts are awarded through competition.
The school's kitchen renovation will go out to tender next month.
fixed phrase: go out to tender
Several firms are preparing their bids after the tender was announced.
The government awarded the contract through an open tender process.
Isabela's company decided not to participate in the tender this time.
- bidding process
less formal; used in both business and everyday contexts
- competitive bidding
emphasizes the competitive nature of the process
文法句型
put [something] out to tender
go out to tender
用法筆記
Often used in uncountable form ('put work out to tender') where it refers to the system or process, not a single document. Countable when referring to a particular instance (e.g. 'the tender was announced').
4. a specially designed vehicle attached behind a steam locomotive that carries wat
a specially designed vehicle attached behind a steam locomotive that carries water, coal, or fuel for the engine; or a fire service vehicle that carries water.
The old steam locomotive pulled a tender loaded with coal and water.
Railway enthusiasts gathered to photograph the locomotive and its tender.
The fire department arrived with a tender carrying several thousand litres of water.
Each tender could hold enough coal for a journey of about one hundred miles.
用法筆記
Rare in modern life except in historical railway contexts or specialist fire-service vocabulary. Most learners will encounter this only in reading about steam trains.
5. a vessel used to transfer passengers or cargo between land and a ship anchored o
a vessel used to transfer passengers or cargo between land and a ship anchored out at sea.
A tender took the passengers from the cruise ship to the island port.
The cargo ship's tender delivered fresh food and water every morning.
Rania stepped into the tender that would carry her to the yacht anchored offshore.
The crew lowered the tender into the water to fetch supplies from the port.
用法筆記
Most commonly used in the cruise industry — a 'tender port' is a destination where the ship cannot dock directly, so passengers go ashore by tender boat.
6. a narrow strip of chicken breast, breaded and deep-fried until golden, often sol
a narrow strip of chicken breast, breaded and deep-fried until golden, often sold as a snack or part of a meal.
The kids ordered chicken tenders with french fries for lunch.
collocation: chicken tenders
Sofia dipped her chicken tender into the honey mustard sauce.
The restaurant serves crispy chicken tenders with three kinds of dipping sauce.
Brian made homemade chicken tenders using breadcrumbs and spices.
- chicken strip
less common term for the same food item
- chicken finger
another name; sometimes used for larger strips
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural 'tenders' or the compound 'chicken tenders'. The singular 'chicken tender' is possible but less common. Not the same as 'chicken nuggets', which are smaller and not necessarily strips of breast meat.
常見錯誤
tender — verb
- tenderpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tenders3rd person singular
- tendering-ing form
- tenderedpast simple
1. to make a formal, written offer to do a job or provide services at a particular
to make a formal, written offer to do a job or provide services at a particular price — usually competing against other companies for a contract.
Three companies tendered for the contract to build the new bridge.
pattern: tender for + contract
Liang's firm tendered two million dollars for the road construction project.
pattern: tender + amount + for + project
The deadline to tender for the school extension is next Friday.
Several local builders have decided to tender for the hospital renovation.
文法句型
tender for [something]
tender [price] for [job]
用法筆記
Intransitive (tender for + work/contract) is the most common pattern. Transitive (tender a price) is possible but less frequent. Used almost exclusively in business and government contracting contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to formally propose purchasing company stock at a stated price, especially durin
to formally propose purchasing company stock at a stated price, especially during a takeover or share sale.
The investment group tendered fifty-five dollars per share for the company.
pattern: tender + price + per share
Shareholders who wish to sell may tender their shares at the offered price.
collocation: tender one's shares
A large bank has tendered for a significant portion of the tech startup's stock.
Christopher decided not to tender his shares, hoping the price would rise.
- offer
general term; 'tender' specifically implies a formal, written offer in a competitive context
文法句型
tender [shares] at [price]
tender for [shares]
用法筆記
In finance, 'tender' often works like 'accept a tender offer' — shareholders tender their shares (offer them for sale) to the buyer. The verb can describe either the buyer's offer or the seller's acceptance.
3. to give, present, or offer something in a formal or official way — for example,
to give, present, or offer something in a formal or official way — for example, tendering your resignation, an apology, or a payment.
The manager tendered her resignation after fifteen years with the company.
collocation: tender one's resignation
Ishaan tendered a sincere apology for the mistake during the meeting.
collocation: tender an apology
The ambassador tendered his thanks to the host country for their warm welcome.
The contractor tendered payment for the materials that had been delivered.
- withdraw
to take back something formally offered
文法句型
tender [something] to [someone]
tender [something]
用法筆記
Very formal — used in official, professional, or diplomatic contexts. Common fixed collocations: 'tender your resignation' (formal way to quit a job), 'tender an apology', 'tender thanks'. Cannot be used for informal giving (gifts, everyday favors).