v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. cut up or grind (esp. meat) into very small pieces.
2 tr. (usu. with neg.) restrain (one's words etc.) within the bounds of politeness.
3 intr. (usu. as mincing adj.) speak or walk with an affected delicacy.
--n. esp. Brit. minced meat.
Phrases and idioms:
mince matters (usu. with neg.) use polite expressions etc. mince pie a usu. small round pie containing mincemeat.
Derivatives:
mincer n. mincingly adv. (in sense 3 of v.).
Etymology: ME f. OF mincier ult. f. L (as MINUTIA)