little by little

little by little
    adv 1: a little bit at a time; "the research structure has
           developed piecemeal" [syn: {piecemeal}, {little by
           little}, {bit by bit}, {in stages}]
    2: by a short distance; "they moved it by inches" [syn: {by
       inches}, {little by little}, {by small degrees}]
    

Little \Lit"tle\, n.
   1. That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or
      the like.
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            Much was in little writ.              --Dryden.
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            There are many expressions, which carrying with them
            no clear ideas, are like to remove but little of my
            ignorance.                            --Locke.
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   2. A small degree or scale; miniature. " His picture in
      little." --Shak.
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            A little, to or in a small degree; to a limited
            extent; somewhat; for a short time. " Stay a
            little." --Shak.
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            The painter flattered her a little.   --Shak.
      

   {By little and little}, or {Little by little}, by slow
      degrees; piecemeal; gradually.
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25 Moby Thesaurus words for "little by little":
      bit by bit, by degrees, by inches, by inchmeal, by slow degrees,
      by snatches, degreewise, drop by drop, foot by foot, gradatim,
      grade by grade, gradually, in detail, in driblets, in installments,
      in lots, in small doses, in snatches, inch by inch, inchmeal,
      part by part, piece by piece, piecemeal, slowly, step by step