mince
pronunciation
How to pronounce mince in British English:
UK [mɪns]
How to pronounce mince in American English:
US [mɪns]
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- Noun:
- food chopped into small bits
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- Verb:
- make less severe or harsh
- walk daintily
- cut into small pieces
Word Origin
- mince
- mince: [14] Etymologically, to mince something is to make it extremely ‘small’. The word comes via Old French mincier from Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre, a derivative of Latin minūtia ‘small thing’. This in turn was based on minūtus ‘small’, source of English minute.=> minute
- mince (v.)
- late 14c., "to chop in little pieces," from Old French mincier "make into small pieces," from Vulgar Latin *minutiare "make small," from Late Latin minutiæ "small bits," from Latin minutus "small" (see minute (adj.)). Of speech, "to clip affectedly in imitation of elegance," 1540s; of words or language, "to restrain in the interest of decorum," 1590s. Meaning "to walk with short or precise steps" is from 1560s. Related: Minced; mincing.
- mince (n.)
- "minced meat," 1850; see mincemeat.
Example
- 1. Mix all the dry ingredients together with the lamb mince .
- 2. A retired secretary interviewed by the project recalled , as a young bride , asking the butcher for a tiny amount of mince .
- 3. Corporate indigestion is as unpleasant as too many mince pies on christmas day .
- 4. Mince pies cannot be eaten on christmas day .
- 5. Mince and potatoes is a popular dish in scotland .