piecemeal

Adjective · Adverb
Synonyms: bit-by-bitin small stagesstep-by-stepstepwiselittle by littlebit by bitin stages

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (1)

  1. one thing at a timeSynonyms: bit-by-bitin small stagesstep-by-stepstepwise

Adverb (1)

  1. a little bit at a time“the research structure has developed piecemeal”Synonyms: little by littlebit by bitin stages
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Piecemeal \Piece"meal`\, n. A fragment; a scrap. --R. Vaughan. [1913 Webster]
Piecemeal \Piece"meal`\, adv. [OE. pecemele; pece a piece + AS. m?lum, dat. pl. of m?l part. See Meal a portion.]

1.In pieces; in parts or fragments. "On which it piecemeal brake." --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

The beasts will tear thee piecemeal.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

2.Piece by piece; by little and little in succession. [1913 Webster]

Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
Piecemeal \Piece"meal`\, a. Made up of parts or pieces; single; separate. "These piecemeal guilts." --Gov. of Tongue. [1913 Webster]
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