minc´er

mince «mihns», verb, minced, minc|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to cut or chop up (meat or other food) into very small pieces; shred: »

All vegetables used in this recipe are to be minced very fine.

SYNONYM(S): hash.

2. to cut up; subdivide minutely: »

The scientists extracted the gene material by mincing the cells (Science News Letter).

3. to speak or do in an affectedly polite or elegant manner.

4. to make little of; disparage.

5. Figurative. to minimize in representation; soften or moderate (words), as in stating unpleasant facts: »

The judge, in addressing the jury, spoke bluntly, mincing no words.

–v.i.

1. to put on fine airs in speaking or walking: »

Vanity, vanity!…the same sentiment that sets a lassie mincing to her glass (Robert Louis Stevenson).

2. to walk with short, dainty steps: »

The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks…mincing as they go (Isaiah 3:16).

–n.

1. meat or other food cut up into very small pieces; a dish of minced meat or the like: »

a mince of chicken. They dined on mince and slices of quince (Edward Lear).

2. = mincemeat. (Cf. ↑mincemeat)

╂[< Old French mincier < Vulgar Latin minūtiāre < Latin minūtus small; see etym. under minute¹ (Cf. ↑minute)]

–minc´er, noun.