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to piece

to piece

1 9.9
To eat small amounts at different times
  • verb
  • /piːs/
: picotear

Examples

  • When Gracie Kang's elder twin sisters reached the age of eighteen, they went down to the Alameda County Shipyards and got jobs piecing battleships together for the U.S. Navy.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • She occasionally invited Sonny now to these frugal repasts, although in the days of Gertrude he had never been asked to partake of anything at the table, but had once in a while "pieced" on something in the pantry.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • After dinner, I started to piece the remaining dessert slowly, savoring every bite.

  • He likes to piece the leftover pizza throughout the evening instead of eating it all at once.

  • She casually pieces her favorite snack while watching television, enjoying it over time.

Synonyms

to nibble
vsto piece
55 2.0

To eat small, gentle bites slowly or a little at a time

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than continuous gentle biting
to snack
vsto piece
36 1.0

To eat a small amount of food between meals

is done in small intermittent bites rather than as a short between-meal eating
to have a bite
vsto piece
23 1.8

Eat a small amount of food as a quick snack

is done in small intermittent bites rather than as a single small portion
to snack on
vsto piece
15 2.5

To eat small amounts of food between meals

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than focused between-meals eating
to graze
vsto piece
12 3.8

Eat small amounts of food during the day instead of a full meal

is done in small intermittent bites rather than as continuous all-day eating
to peck
vsto piece
6 3.4

To eat small, quick bites like a bird

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than rapid quick biting
to pick
vsto piece
5 3.6

To eat small amounts and not finish a meal

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than leaving much food unfinished
to nosh
vsto piece
  • Informal
4 8.2

To eat a small snack between meals

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than a light informal between-meal eating
to eat like a bird
vsto piece
  • Informal
1 6.0

To eat only a very small amount of food

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than indicating very low total intake
to peck at
vsto piece
1 4.7

To eat only a little food and not show interest

is done in small intermittent bites rather than from low appetite or disinterest
to sup
vsto piece
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To take small amounts of liquid or soft food into the mouth slowly

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than by sipping or spooning liquids
to browse
vsto piece
1 3.9

To eat small amounts of different foods instead of a full meal

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than varied sampling across dishes
to pick at
vsto piece
1 4.2

Do something slowly and without interest, often doing only small parts

is eaten in small intermittent bites rather than slow reluctant eating

Antonyms

30 4.5

To do something like eating, drinking, or watching a lot in a short time

19 5.9

To eat a very large amount of food greedily

Idioms

piece of cake
  • Informal
47 1.0

Something very easy to do

23 7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are unhappy with them

15 4.4

A share in an activity that may bring money or excitement

piece of the pie
  • Informal
13 3.4

A part of profits or benefits that people receive

5 6.9

Having the same style or quality throughout

2 3.4

People make or sell items one at a time instead of in bulk

Say this when you cannot give a clear answer because it depends on things you do not know

Tell someone angrily that you are upset with them

Compounds

piece of shit
  • Offensive
328 9.9

A person or thing that is very bad and has no value used to insult someone

208 1.0

A single flat sheet used for writing or printing

piece of work
  • Informal
68 6.2

Something impressive but difficult, for example a book or building, and sometimes a person who behaves strangely

piece of crap
  • Offensive
55 8.9

A thing of very poor quality that is useless

An important fact that helps explain a situation or solve a problem

piece of junk
  • Informal
35 3.2

A thing that is worth little and does not work well

piece of ass
  • Offensive
33 9.9

A person seen only as someone to have sex with, not as a whole person

26 1.8

A small area of land that someone owns or uses

A musical work like a song or music played by instruments

A single item in a room like a chair or table

piece of garbage
  • Informal
22 1.7

A thing that is useless and not worth keeping

piece of trash
  • Offensive
16 4.7

Something thought to be worthless or of very low quality

15 1.0

A small chewy piece of candy you chew once

12 3.5

Clothing made of three matching pieces, usually a jacket, trousers and a waistcoat

piece of writing
  • Specialized
12 2.1

A text that a person makes to share ideas, feelings, or stories

12 3.3

One object that is whole and not made from other parts

A small piece cut from a larger material used to make or fix clothes

A set of matching jacket, vest, and trousers worn for formal occasions

9 3.1

Made of two separate parts

7 5.1

A long planned sequence in a film or game that shows big action

5 7.0

A play, film, or book that shows a past time in great detail

5 2.0

A small object like a pawn or queen used in the game of chess

An object that people notice and talk about

A part of cloth cut to use for clothes or crafts

An area of land used for something, like a garden or park

3 6.8

A single item of stage scenery like a painted tree

piece of eight
  • Archaic
3 9.9

An old Spanish silver coin worth eight reales used widely in trade from the 1500s to 1800s

piece of tail
  • Offensive
3 9.9

Someone treated only for sex, not as a real person

think piece
  • Literature
2 6.8

An article in a newspaper or magazine that gives opinions to start a discussion

2 1.8

A coin from the United States worth fifty cents, equal to half a dollar

A set of matching jacket and trousers or skirt that people wear for work

1 3.0

A suit with a matching jacket and skirt or trousers

A piece of clothing or jewelry that gets attention

1 3.0

A woman's swimsuit with a separate top and bottom

piece rate
  • Specialized
1 4.8

Pay for each item a worker makes

1 3.2

Two people who play music together as a group

piece goods
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Cloth sold in lengths by the yard or meter for sewing

1 1.7

A coin worth ten cents, like a dime

fowling piece
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A light shotgun used for shooting wild birds

1 8.1

A piece of animal fur you wear around the neck like a scarf for warmth and style

1 5.5

An item in a collection that people value most

knee piece
  • Archaic
9.9

A curved metal plate that protects the knee in armor

masking piece
  • Jargon
9.5

A piece of stage scenery that hides parts of the stage from the audience

9.9

A piece of skilled work made to show a worker can become a master

9.9

A small chew of gutka, a kind of chewing tobacco

piece of land
  • Jargon
6.7

A digital area in an online world that someone can buy or own

woketurd piece
  • Offensive
9.9

An insulting label for an article that pretends to support social causes but has no real ideas

How Much

to devour
15 2.9
to eat
∞ 1.0
to piece
1 9.9
to nibble
55 2.0
to pick at
2 4.6

Surface Forms

piece infinitive
pieced past
pieced past participle
piecing present participle
pieces third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb piece meaning to eat in small amounts is to think of taking food 'piece by piece' — small 'bits' at a time.