Mince

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This page has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster 's Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The definitions may be significantly out of date, and more recent senses will be completely missing.

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Transitive verb 1.2.1 Translations 1.3 Intransitive verb 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mɪns/
• SAMPA: /mIns/

Transitive verb

to mince (mincing, minced, minced)

1. To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine.
2. To suppress or weaken the force of; to extenuate; to palliate; to tell by degrees, instead of directly and frankly; to clip, as words or expressions; to utter half and keep back half of.

   I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to say — "I love you." — Shakespeare

   Current usage limited to phrases of the form "..... mince words with ..." e.g. "I won't mince words with you"

3. To affect; to make a parade of.

Translations

chop fine

Italian: tritare

Intransitive verb

to mince (mincing, minced, minced)

1. To walk with short steps; to walk in a prim, affected manner.

   The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, mincing as they go. --Is. III. 16.

   I'll turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride. — Shakespeare

2. To act or talk with affected nicety; to affect delicacy in manner.

Noun

mince (countable and uncountable; plural minces)

1. (uncountable) Finely chopped meat.
2. (countable) A short, precise step.
3. (countable) An affected manner.

Translations

finely chopped meat

Italian: macinata f

short precise step

affected manner