mince
[ mins ]
/ mɪns /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE MANY TYPES OF NOUNS
They're everywhere you turn, but can you identify the 10 types of nouns easily? This quiz will test your mettle against singular, plural, concrete, abstract, common, proper, collective, compound, countable, and uncountable nouns!
Question 1 of 7
Shoelaces, rainbow, toothpaste, and haircuts are all what type of noun?
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Idioms for 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, adjectiveWords nearby mince
Minas de Ríotinto, Minas Gerais, Minatitlán, minatory, minaudière, mince, mince matters, mincemeat, mince pie, mincer, Minch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for mince
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