I. ˈmin(t)s verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English mincen, from Middle French mincer, mincier, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin minutiare, from Latin minutia smallness, minuteness, from minutus minute + -ia -y — more at minute
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cut or chop into very small pieces
mince ham
mince glands in medical research
b. : to subdivide minutely
his days … were minced into hours — Van Wyck Brooks
especially : to damage by cutting up
the director minced up the play
2. : to cut up (a plover)
3. : to utter or pronounce with affectation (as of refinement or elegance) : clip in pronunciation
minced the word in the manner of the old lady
who minced his mother tongue — Leslie Stephen
4. archaic : to diminish in representation : tell in part or by degrees : weaken the force of : make little of : extenuate , minimize
I do not mince the truth — P.J.Bailey
5.
a. : to moderate or restrain (words) within the bounds of politeness and decorum
minced no words in stating his dislike — J.T.Farrell
a typical old-school editor who never minced words with his enemies — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
b. : euphemize
such minced words as heck, darn, durn, danged — Thomas Pyles
6. : to do or perform (something) in an affected way
intransitive verb
1. : to walk with short steps or in a prim affected manner
a painted woman … minced up to them — T.B.Costain
a slender, small, dapper man minced over the threshold — C.B.Kelland
while the birds … mince on the pavement at their feet — Constance Carrier
2. : to speak with affected nicety or elegance
3. : to chop food materials fine
•
- mince matters
II. noun
( -s )
: small bits or pieces into which something is chopped
a mince of mushrooms
specifically : mincemeat