adjective
Etymology: from present participle of mince (I)
1.
a. : characterized by or expressive of affected daintiness and elegance
trying to speak in a small mincing treble — George Eliot
the mincing step of old-fashioned Chinese ladies — Harold Seymour
b. : affectedly dainty or delicate (as in speech, manner of walking, or behavior)
a mincing lady … pushed a streamlined pram — Earle Birney
2. archaic : characterized by an attempt to minimize or extenuate
those mincing names designed only to palliate wrong actions — John Doran
3.
[from gerund of mince (I) ]
: used or designed for cutting (something) into small pieces
a mincing machine
a mincing knife