tenderness
nounUK /ˈtendənəs/
US /ˈtendərnəs/
The feeling of being gentle and kind, or the soft, sore feeling of a part of your body that hurts.
She touched the baby's cheek with great tenderness.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A sore or painful feeling in part of your body when it is touched.
He felt tenderness in his knee after the long run.
3. The quality of meat being soft and easy to cut or chew.
Slow cooking gives the beef a wonderful tenderness.
4. A gentle, loving way of treating someone.
The nurse spoke to the old man with tenderness.