bit by bit
         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: in a gradual manner; "the snake moved gradually toward its
            victim" [syn: {gradually}, {bit by bit}, {step by step}]

English Dictionary: bit by bit	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
bit-by-bit adj one thing at a time [syn: bit-by-bit, {in small stages}, piecemeal, step-by-step, stepwise]