The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word MINCE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
M
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More clues leading to the result MINCE
- Vermin eating last bit of rotten meat
- Chop's rotten at one end, consumed by rodents
- Meat that’s new devoured by rodents
- Finely chop egg with a bit of chilli in
- Rodents can pick up last of rotten food
- Profitable source that includes cold type of meat
- Maidens during church trip putting on airs
- A fine cut of meat
- Setter’s devouring cold chop
- Rodents eating last bit of rotten food
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "processed meat?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case processed meat? = mince.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MINCE mean?
MINCE noun- Finely chopped meat.
- Finely chopped mixed fruit used in Christmas pies; mincemeat.
- An affected (often dainty or short and precise) gait.
- An affected manner, especially of speaking; an affectation.
- (chiefly in the plural) An eye (from mince pie).
- To make less; make small.
- To lessen; diminish; to diminish in speaking; speak of lightly or slightingly; minimise.
- To effect mincingly.
- To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine.
- To suppress or weaken the force of
- To say or utter vaguely, not directly or frankly
- To affect; to pronounce affectedly or with an accent.
- To walk with short steps; to walk in a prim, affected manner.
- To act or talk with affected nicety; to affect delicacy in manner.