piecemeal

UK: /ˈpiːsmiːl/ US: /ˈpisˌmil/ ,(pēs′mēl′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

piece•meal /ˈpisˌmil/   adv. 

1. one piece at a time:
   to work piecemeal.

adj. 

2. done piecemeal.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

piece•meal  (pēs′mēl′), adv. 

1. piece by piece;
   one piece at a time;
   gradually:
   to work piecemeal.
2. into pieces or fragments:
   to tear a letter piecemeal.

adj. 

3. done piecemeal.

• 1250–1300; Middle English pecemele; replacing Old English styccemǣlum. See piece, -meal

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

piecemeal / ˈpiːsˌmiːl/ adverb

1. by degrees; bit by bit; gradually
2. in or into pieces or piece from piece

adjective

1. fragmentary or unsystematic: a piecemeal approach

Etymology: 13th Century pecemele, from piece + -mele, from Old English mælum quantity taken at one time