Word
mince
US/ˈmɪns/
UK/mˈɪns/
Definition
n. meat that has been cut into very small pieces using a machine. You use it to make dishes like burgers, pasta sauce, or pies.
n. meat, typically beef, that has been finely chopped or ground in a mincer. Often used as a base for various culinary preparations.
Examples
“I bought some beef mince to make a bolognese sauce.”
“The recipe calls for five hundred grams of lean pork mince and a variety of fresh herbs.”
“While higher fat content in mince provides more flavour during the browning process, many health-conscious consumers prefer leaner grinds for their everyday cooking.”
Examples
simple
“I bought some beef mince to make a bolognese sauce.”
contextual
“The recipe calls for five hundred grams of lean pork mince and a variety of fresh herbs.”
complex
“While higher fat content in mince provides more flavour during the browning process, many health-conscious consumers prefer leaner grinds for their everyday cooking.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the meat as a substance; occasionally countable in British English when referring to specific types or portions.
Pitfall
I bought three minces
I bought three packs of mince
Mince is typically uncountable; use a container or weight to specify quantity.
Idioms
mince words — To restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.