1. a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
2. a feeling of concern for the welfare of someone (especially someone defenseless)
Synonym: softheartedness
3. a positive feeling of liking
e.g. he had trouble expressing the affection he felt
the child won everyone's heart
the warmness of his welcome made us feel right at home
Synonym: affectionaffectionatenessfondnessheartwarmnesswarmheartednessphilia
4. warm compassionate feelings
Synonym: tenderheartedness
5. a pain that is felt (as when the area is touched)
e.g. the best results are generally obtained by inserting the needle into the point of maximum tenderness
after taking a cold, rawness of the larynx and trachea come on
Synonym: sorenessrawness