Entry 6 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Mince

/(mĭns)/ · IPA /mɪns/

01 v. t. To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine; to hash; as, to mince meat.

imp. & p. p. Minced; p. pr. & vb. n. Minging

1.
To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine; to hash; as, to mince meat.
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; as, he doesn't mince words.
“I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to say -- “I love you.”” — Shak.

“Siren, now mince the sin, And mollify damnation with a phrase.” — Dryden.

“If, to mince his meaning, I had either omitted some part of what he said, or taken from the strength of his expression, I certainly had wronged him.” — Dryden.
3.
To affect; to make a parade of.[R.]

02 v. i. To walk with short steps; to walk in a prim, affected manner.

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

03 n. A short, precise step; an affected manner.

1.
A short, precise step; an affected manner.