Mince: meaning, definitions and examples

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mince

[ mɪns ]

Noun / Verb

^{Context #1 | Noun}

food

Finely chopped meat, especially beef, used as a filling in dishes such as pies, burgers, or meatballs.

Synonyms

chopped meat, ground meat, minced meat.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
mince	Often used in British English to describe meat that has been finely chopped in a meat grinder. It can also relate to the act of cutting food into very small pieces. He always adds minced garlic to his pasta sauce. For the pie, you need to mince the beef and mix it with the vegetables.
ground meat	Commonly used in American English to describe meat that has been finely chopped using a grinder, typically for a more uniform texture. Ground meat is often used to make burgers and meatballs. You can substitute ground chicken for ground beef in this recipe.
chopped meat	Generally refers to meat that has been cut into small, uneven pieces. This term is often used in recipes that do not require the meat to be finely ground. Add the chopped meat to the skillet and cook until browned. This stew recipe calls for chopped meat, not ground.
minced meat	Often interchangeable with 'mince' in British English, referring to finely chopped or ground meat, usually processed through a meat grinder. Sheep farmers often sell minced meat at the local market. Many recipes call for minced meat as the primary protein.

Examples of usage

She made delicious meat pies with mince for dinner.
The recipe calls for a pound of mince beef.
We ordered a mince burger at the restaurant.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

cooking

To chop or grind food, especially meat, into very small pieces.

Synonyms

chop, dice, grind.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
mince	Use 'mince' when referring to cutting food, especially meat, into very small pieces, typically using a mincing machine or a knife. For the shepherd's pie, you'll need to mince the beef finely We're going to mince some garlic for the pasta sauce
chop	Use 'chop' when referring to cutting food into larger, uneven pieces using a knife or a cleaver. This is often used for vegetables or meat. Chop the carrots and onions before adding them to the stew He likes to chop wood for the fireplace
grind	Use 'grind' when referring to breaking down food, especially spices, coffee, or meat, into tiny particles using a grinder. Grind the black peppercorns to release their flavor We need to grind some coffee beans for a fresh brew
dice	Use 'dice' when referring to cutting food into small, even, square pieces. This is often done for uniform cooking or presentation. Dice the tomatoes and cucumbers for the salad The recipe requires you to dice the potatoes into small cubes

Examples of usage

She minced the garlic for the pasta sauce.
Make sure to mince the onions finely for the curry.

Translations

Translations of the word "mince" in other languages:

🇵🇹 picar

🇮🇳 काटना

🇩🇪 hacken

🇮🇩 cincang

🇺🇦 подрібнювати

🇵🇱 siekać

🇯🇵 刻む (kizamu)

🇫🇷 hacher

🇪🇸 picar

🇹🇷 doğramak

🇰🇷 다지다 (dajida)

🇸🇦 يفرم (yafrum)

🇨🇿 sekat

🇸🇰 sekať

🇨🇳 剁碎 (duò suì)

🇸🇮 sekljati

🇮🇸 hakka

🇰🇿 ұсақтау

🇬🇪 დაჭრა (dachra)

🇦🇿 doğramaq

🇲🇽 picar

Etymology

The word 'mince' originated from the Middle English word 'mincen' which means 'to chop finely.' It has been used in the culinary world for centuries to describe the process of cutting food into small pieces, especially meat. Mincing has been a common cooking technique in various cuisines around the world, adding flavor and texture to dishes.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,927, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
23924 manoeuvring
23925 bespoke
23926 balustrade
23927 mince
23928 scalable
23929 divulged
23930 fluke
...