Tender Meaning
/ˈtɛn.dəː/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjSensitive or painful to the touch.
adjEasily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.
Sentence Examples
This beef is tender.
This beef is very nice and tender.
The petals of this rose are very tender.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The mother gave her baby a ____ kiss on the forehead.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The steak was cooked perfectly and was very ____ and juicy, making it a wonderful meal for the special occasion today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…]poore Lord, is't I
That chaſe thee from thy Countrie, and expoſe
Thoſe tender limbes of thine[…]"
— c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
"Be careful: that area is tender."
— 2006, Shrek, spoken by Shrek (Mike Myers):
"the tender and delicate woman among you"
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 28:56:
"Our Bodies are not naturally more Tender than our Faces."
— 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
"You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good."
— c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The mother gave her baby a ____ kiss on the forehead.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The steak was cooked perfectly and was very ____ and juicy, making it a wonderful meal for the special occasion today.