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mince

[ mins ]
/ mɪns /
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See synonyms for: mince / mincing / mincer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), minced, minc·ing.
verb (used without object), minced, minc·ing.
to walk or move with short, affectedly dainty steps.
Archaic. to act or speak with affected elegance.
noun
something cut up very small; mincemeat.
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Idioms about mince

    not mince words / matters, to speak directly and frankly; be blunt or outspoken: He was angry and didn't mince words.

Origin of mince

1350–1400; Middle English mincen<Middle French minc(i)er<Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre to mince; see minute2

OTHER WORDS FROM mince

mincer, nounun·minced, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mince in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mince

mince
/ (mɪns) /

verb
(tr) to chop, grind, or cut into very small pieces
(tr) to soften or moderate, esp for the sake of convention or politenessI didn't mince my words
(intr) to walk or speak in an affected dainty manner
noun
mainly British minced meat
informal nonsensical rubbish

Word Origin for mince

C14: from Old French mincier, from Vulgar Latin minūtiāre (unattested), from Late Latin minūtia smallness; see minutiae
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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