mince

[mins]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mince ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), minced, minc·ing.

to cut or chop into very small pieces.

to soften, moderate, or weaken (one's words), especially for the sake of decorum or courtesy.

to perform or utter with affected elegance.

to subdivide minutely, as land or a topic for study.

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.

Idioms

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

Related formsminc·er, nounun·minced, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for mince

crumble, grind, soften, cut, hash, chip, hack, whack, divide, dice, sashay, strut, prance, flounce, attitudinize, posture, spare, palliate, minimize, extenuate

Examples from the Web for mince

Contemporary Examples of mince

But Marcouch does not mince his words: “The greatest insult of ISIS may even be toward the Muslims and Islam itself,” he tells us.
ISIS’s Black Flags Are Flying in Europe
Nadette De Visser
July 28, 2014
Musk was never one to mince words, but has recently unleashed aggressive broadsides on ULA.
SpaceX’s Dragon V2 Will Land Exactly Where It Wants To
Zach Rosenberg
May 30, 2014
Santa snacks on rice pudding in Denmark, sponge cake in Chile, Kulkuls in India, and mince pies in the U.K.
8 Facts You Never Knew About Christmas
Brandy Zadrozny
December 24, 2013
Never one to mince her words, Leakes is as bawdy as they get on reality television.
‘Ebony’ Cover With NeNe Leakes Unleashes a Firestorm of Criticism
Karu F. Daniels
November 27, 2012
Not to mince words,” he tells Gibney in the movie, “my view is I brought myself down… I did what I did, and shame on me.
Spitzer's Tale of Redemption
Lloyd Grove
April 25, 2010

Historical Examples of mince

Pare the pine-apple, slice it very thin, and mince it small.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
These mince pies may be eaten by persons who refrain from meat in Lent.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
When half done, take them out, drain them, and mince them very fine.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Place the mince in greased scallop shells, and cover with the potatoes.
The Skilful Cook
Mary Harrison
Put the mince into a quart of boiling milk, with a little butter and salt, cinnamon and sugar, and stir them carefully together.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton

British Dictionary definitions for mince

mince

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

Word Origin and History for mince

late 14c., "to chop in little pieces," from Old French mincier "make into small pieces," from Vulgar Latin *minutiare "make small," from Late Latin minutiæ "small bits," from Latin minutus "small" (see minute (adj.)). Of speech, "to clip affectedly in imitation of elegance," 1540s; of words or language, "to restrain in the interest of decorum," 1590s. Meaning "to walk with short or precise steps" is from 1560s. Related: Minced; mincing.

"minced meat," 1850; see mincemeat.