English Explanatory Dictionary

piecemeal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Made or done in pieces or one stage at a time.
adv
  1. Piece by piece; in small amounts, stages, or degrees.
  2. Into pieces or parts.
verb
  1. To divide or distribute piecemeal; dismember.
noun
  1. A fragment; a scrap.

Pronunciation

/ˈpiːs.miːl/ en-us-piecemeal.ogg en-au-piecemeal.ogg

Word forms

piecemeal piecemeals piecemealing piecemealed

Etymology

From 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.

Synonyms

piecewise stepwise incremental gradual piecemeal slow bit by bit little by little apart apportion mete out parcel out distribute bit lump portion

Derived words

piecemealing piecemealwise
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