What does minced mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈmɪnsəd/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb

Definition

To cut food, typically meat or vegetables, into very small pieces, often by cutting in a short, quick motion.

Examples

• The cook minced the garlic for the recipe.
• Minced meat is often used in pasta dishes.

Synonyms

• Chopped
• Finely cut
• Crushed

Antonyms

• Julienned
• Sliced

Additional Information

Minced food, such as minced meat or minced vegetables, is often used in cooking to add flavor and texture to dishes. Mincing is a common technique used in many cuisines around the world, including French, Italian, and Asian cooking.

The term “minced” can also be used figuratively to describe something that is subtle, delicate, or tactful. For example, one might say “The politician chose his words carefully, mincing no words to convey his message effectively.”

Etymology

The word “minced” comes from the Old French “mincir”, which means “to reduce to small pieces”. This verb is derived from the Latin “minutus”, meaning “little” or “small”, and the suffix “-are”, which is a verb-forming suffix.

Usage Notes

When using the verb “minced”, it is important to consider the context and the intended meaning. In cooking, mincing refers to the act of cutting food into small pieces, whereas in figurative language, it can refer to the act of being subtle or tactful.

Cultural References

In popular culture, the term “minced” has been used in a variety of contexts, including literature, film, and music. For example, in Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, the character Horatio is described as a “minced” word.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• To mince words
• To be minced

Related Words or Phrases

• Chop
• Finely cut
• Crushed
• Sliced

Collocations

• To mince meat
• To mince vegetables
• To mince garlic

Frequency of Use

The verb “minced” is relatively uncommon in everyday language, but it is commonly used in cooking and culinary contexts.

Common Misspellings

• Minse
• Minceded