tender
Definitions
Gentle, kind, and loving; sensitive or sore to the touch; (of food) soft and easy to chew
温柔的，亲切的；（触碰时）疼痛的；（食物）嫩的
To formally offer or present (a payment, resignation, or bid)
正式提出（付款、辞呈）；投标
A formal written offer to do work or supply goods at a stated price
投标（书）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedThe adjective tender ("soft, gentle") actually comes from Latin tener (delicate), a different source — a confusable lookalike, not the stretch root. But the verb/noun tender ("to offer formally," a "bid") does come from tendere: to tender is to "stretch out" an offer, holding it forward for acceptance. Same word, two unrelated origins.
Root tend still carries 40 more wordsWhy It Means This
Tender is two words wearing one spelling. The "gentle/soft" adjective traces to Latin tener (delicate, young), giving us tenderness and tender loving care. The "offer/bid" verb traces to tendere (stretch) — when you tender your resignation, you stretch it out and hold it forward formally. Only the second belongs to the tend family.
Common Collocations
- 1.tender loving care温柔体贴的关怀
- 2.tender age年幼之时
- 3.tender a resignation递交辞呈
- 4.submit a tender提交投标
Example Sentences
- 1.
She gave the baby a tender kiss on the forehead.
- 2.
The meat was so tender it fell off the bone.
- 3.
Three firms tendered for the construction contract.