Words / B1

mins-PEYE/ˌmɪns ˈpaɪ/

A mince pie (id: mince-pie) is a small sweet UK pie filled with dried fruit (mincemeat), eaten at Christmas. The filling is not minced beef; that mix-up is famous. Savoury minced meat is mince. Countable: a mince pie / a tin of mince pies. Warm, often with cream or brandy butter.

Meaning

A small sweet pie with dried fruit, eaten at Christmas (UK).

Examples

• “She put a plate of mince pies out with the tea.”
• “Office tins of mince pies appear in December and last about a day.”
• “She does not like mince pies because the filling tastes of mixed peel.”

Good to know

a mince pie (UK Christmas; sweet dried fruit). Not minced beef. Contrast: mince (savoury meat).

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