mince Definition
- 1to cut food, especially meat, into very small pieces, often using a special machine called a mincer
- 2to walk with short, quick steps in a way that looks unnatural and silly
- 3to soften one's words for the sake of politeness or to avoid hurting someone's feelings
Using mince: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mince" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She minced the garlic before adding it to the sauce.
Example
The beef should be minced before being added to the soup.
Example
He was mincing along the street in his high heels.
Example
She minced her words when she told him he was fired.
Example
He didn't mince his words when he told her what he thought of her behavior.
mince Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with mince
to speak indirectly or euphemistically, especially to avoid speaking honestly or bluntly
Example
Don't mince words with me. Just tell me what you really think.
Example
We always have mince pies for dessert on Christmas Day.
to walk in a way that is affected or exaggerated, often to show off or draw attention to oneself
Example
He was mincing around the dance floor, trying to impress everyone with his moves.
Origins of mince
from Middle English 'mincen', from Old French 'mincier', meaning 'to chop finely'
Summary: mince in Brief
The verb 'mince' [mins] means to cut food into small pieces, walk with short, affected steps, or soften one's words for politeness. It can refer to chopping meat or vegetables, as in 'She minced the garlic before adding it to the sauce,' or walking in an exaggerated manner, as in 'He was mincing along the street in his high heels.' The phrase 'mince words' denotes indirect or euphemistic speech, while 'mince pies' are a traditional British Christmas pastry.
