/ ˈpiːsmiːl; NAmE / adjective
[ usually before noun ] (often disapproving ) done or happening gradually at different times and often in different ways, rather than carefully planned at the beginning :
a piecemeal approach to dealing with the problem
piecemeal changes
► piece·meal adverb :
The reforms were implemented piecemeal.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from the noun piece + -meal from Old English mǣlum , in the sense measure, quantity taken at one time .