piecemeal
pronunciation
How to pronounce piecemeal in British English:
UK [ˈpi:smi:l]
How to pronounce piecemeal in American English:
US [ˈpisˌmil]
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- Adjective:
- one thing at a time
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- Adverb:
- a little bit at a time
Word Origin
- piecemeal
- piecemeal: see meal
- piecemeal (adv.)
- c. 1300 (originally two words), from piece (n.) + Old English mælum "at a time," dative plural of mæl "appointed time, food served" (see meal (n.1)). The second element once was more commonly used, as in Old English styccemælum "bit by bit," gearmælum "year by year." One-word form from 15c.
Example
- 1. And so far it is a very piecemeal relief effort .
- 2. Piecemeal measures will no longer work , he says .
- 3. With upside-down faces we 're left having to do piecemeal feature-by-feature comparisons like a newspaper ' spot the difference ' competition .
- 4. Past banking crises show that late , piecemeal rescues cost more and work less well .
- 5. But it is possible to add to the planet 's resilience , often through simple and piecemeal actions , if they are well thought through .