PIECEMEAL

piecemeal, in small stages, bit-by-bit, step-by-step, stepwise

(adjective) one thing at a time

piecemeal, little by little, bit by bit, in stages

(adverb) a little bit at a time; “the research structure has developed piecemeal”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

piecemeal (not comparable)

Made or done in pieces or one stage at a time.

Usage notes

Nouns to which “piecemeal” is often applied: fashion, approach, basis, way, change, reform, measure.

Synonyms

• stepwise; see also gradual

Adverb

piecemeal (not comparable)

Piece by piece; in small amounts, stages, or degrees.

Into pieces or parts.

Synonyms

• (piece by piece): little by little, bit by bit; see also incrementally

• (into pieces or parts): apart; see also asunder

Verb

piecemeal (third-person singular simple present piecemeals, present participle piecemealing, simple past and past participle piecemealed)

(transitive) To divide or distribute piecemeal; dismember.

Synonyms

• apportion, mete out, parcel out; see also divide or distribute

Noun

piecemeal (plural piecemeals)

A fragment; a scrap.

Synonyms

• bit, lump, portion; see also piece

Source: Wiktionary


Piece"meal`, adv. Etym: [OE. pecemele; pece a piece + AS. m, dat. pl. of m part. See Meal a portion.]

1. In pieces; in parts or fragments. "On which it piecemeal brake." Chapman. The beasts will tear thee piecemeal. Tennyson.

2. Piece by piece; by little and little in succession. Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that. Pope.

Piece"meal`, a.

Definition: Made up of parts or pieces; single; separate. "These piecemeal guilts." Gov. of Tongue.

Piece"meal`, n.

Definition: A fragment; a scrap. R. Vaughan.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 March 2024

FAULTFINDING

(adjective) tending to make moral judgments or judgments based on personal opinions; “a counselor tries not to be faultfinding”


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Coffee Trivia

“Coffee, the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States

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