piecemeal
Piece by piece; in small amounts, stages, or degreesPiece by piece; in small amounts, stages, or degrees.
» The regulation is piecemeal and unfocused.
Meaning
2 senses(not comparable)Piece by piece; in small amounts, stages, or degrees.
einzeln, in Portiönchen, häppchenweise
по частя́мpo častjám, постепе́нноpostepénno
части́намиčastýnamy, поступо́воpostupóvo
(not comparable)Into pieces or parts.
in Einzelteile
на куски́na kuskí, на ча́стиna části
на шматки́na šmatký, на части́ниna častýny
- a little bit at a time
Examples
5 sentencesThe regulation is piecemeal and unfocused.
The information is leaking piecemeal to the press.
I won't be swayed by your piecemeal offerings.
He said that the piecemeal solution of the government will not work.
Piecemeal approaches are doomed to fail.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English pecemele, from pece (“piece”) + mele (from Old English mǣlum (“at a tiFrom Middle English pecemele, from pece (“piece”) + mele (from Old English mǣlum (“at a time”), dative plural form of mǣl (“time, measure”), taking the place of Old English styċċemǣlum (“in pieces, bit by bit, piecemeal; to pieces, to bits; here and there, in different places; little by little, by degrees, gradually”); equivalent to piece + -meal.
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Synonyms
4 synonyms- a little bit at a time:little by littlebit by bitin stages