adv. 1 piece by piece, little by little, inch by inch, bit by bit, inchmeal, gradually, by degrees, slowly, in bits and pieces, by fits and starts, fitfully, intermittently, sporadically, disjointedly The ministry insisted that the plans should remain as one package and not be introduced piecemeal over the next two years 2 into fragments or shreds or pieces He angrily took the cheque and tore it up piecemeal
adj. 3 fragmentary, bit by bit, inchmeal, gradual, disjointed, sporadic The South-east could become one huge traffic jam unless the Government drops its piecemeal approach to planning