smooth, soft or tender

P

Pidginboy

Senior Member
India-Local dialect
To refer to a particular characteristic of skin which is smooth,even, and soft, can we use the term 'tender'? It is particularly the skin nature of woman and child.
 
    • "Tender" is acceptable; it communicates that something is smooth and soft. Be aware, however, that "tender" also indicates that something is delicate and sensitive. Those are characteristics of the skin of a woman or child, so it is an appropriate word to use in this case. Just know that "tender" and "smooth" and "soft" are not always interchangeable.
     
    I would avoid using tender unless you employ it in its common usage. That usage is for skin that is sun burned, scalded, pinched, blistered or swollen for some reason. It is sore skin. It hurts to touch it.
     
    Harry Batt said:
    I would avoid using tender unless you employ it in its common usage. That usage is for skin that is sun burned, scalded, pinched, blistered or swollen for some reason. It is sore skin. It hurts to touch it.
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    I agree; usually when you refer to "tender skin" it implies an injury or irritation. However, if someone said, "the tender skin of a baby" I would not assume that the baby's skin was sunburned or bruised or anything else; I would interpret "tender" as soft, delicate, etc.
     
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