tenderloin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral in culinary contexts, Informal for district reference
Quick answer
What does “tenderloin” mean?
A tender cut of meat from the loin of an animal, especially beef or pork.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tender cut of meat from the loin of an animal, especially beef or pork.
A district in a city, notably the Tenderloin in San Francisco, historically associated with vice and crime.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, commonly refers to the San Francisco district; in British English, primarily the meat cut.
Connotations
US: district has negative connotations of crime; UK: meat has positive connotations of quality.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to geographical reference to San Francisco.
Grammar
How to Use “tenderloin” in a Sentence
the tenderloina piece of tenderlointenderloin from the pigVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in restaurant menus or meat industry reports.
Academic
Used in culinary arts, meat science, or urban studies when discussing the Tenderloin district.
Everyday
Common when discussing cooking or referring to the San Francisco neighborhood.
Technical
Specific to butchery for the cut of meat, or in historical contexts for urban areas.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tenderloin”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tenderloin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tenderloin”
- Mispronouncing as 'tender-loin' with separate syllables, or confusing with 'sirloin'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can refer to tender cuts from other animals like pork, and in extended use, to urban districts.
It originated in 19th-century New York, referring to the 'tender' profits from vice, later applied to similar areas like San Francisco.
No, it is primarily a noun; verbal usage is non-standard and rare.
In British English, /ˈtɛndəlɔɪn/; in American English, /ˈtɛndɚlɔɪn/, with stress on the first syllable.
A tender cut of meat from the loin of an animal, especially beef or pork.
Tenderloin is usually neutral in culinary contexts, informal for district reference in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in the tenderloin”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tender' meat from the 'loin' – it's the soft cut from the back.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY IS TENDERNESS for the meat, DANGER IS THE TENDERLOIN for the district.
Practice
Quiz
What is a common extended meaning of 'tenderloin' in American English?