plot Hear it!

plot definition

plot (plät)

noun

  1. a small area of ground marked off for some special use garden plot, cemetery plot
  2. a chart or diagram, as of a building or estate

  3. Etymology: short for complot

    a secret, usually evil, project or scheme; conspiracy
  4. the arrangement of the incidents in a play, novel, narrative poem, etc.

Etymology: ME < OE, piece of land: some meanings infl. by complot

transitive verb plotted plot′·ted, plotting plot′·ting

    1. to draw a plan or chart of (a ship's course, etc.)
    2. to mark the position or course of on a map
  2. to make secret plans for to plot someone's destruction
  3. to plan the action of (a story, etc.)
  4. Math.
    1. to determine or mark the location of (a point) on a graph by means of coordinates
    2. to represent (an equation) by locating points on a graph and joining them to form a curve
    3. to draw (the curve thus determined)

intransitive verb

to scheme or conspire

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business plot definition - business

plot Synonyms

plot

n.

  1. An intrigue

    conspiracy, scheme, intrigue, machination, cabal, stratagem, plan, design, designs, counterplot, covin; see also intrigue 1, trick 1.

  2. The action of a story

    plan, scheme, outline, design, development, progress, unfolding, movement, story line, climax, denouement, events, incidents, enactment, suspense, structure, build-up, scenario.

  3. A piece of ground

    parcel, land, division; see area 2, lot 1.

plot is used of a secret, usually evil, project or scheme, the details of which have been carefully worked out the plot to deprive him of his inheritance failed; intrigue, implying more intricate scheming, suggests furtive, underhanded maneuvering, often of an illicit nature the intrigues at the royal court; machination stresses deceit and cunning in devising plots or schemes intended to harm someone the machinations of the villain; conspiracy suggests a plot in which a number of people plan and act together secretly for an unlawful or harmful purpose a conspiracy to seize the throne; cabal suggests a small group of political intriguers


plot

v.

  1. To devise an intrigue

    frame, contrive, scheme; see plan 1.

  2. To plan

    sketch, outline, draft; see plan 2.

  3. To determine a course

    map out, put forward, propose, outline, consider, plan.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

plot Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • hatch: At the end of 1966, the Twins hatched a plot to free Frank Mitchell, the Mad Axeman.

Adjective modifier

  • sinister: Once he has his allies assembled can they uncover who is behind this sinister plot before it is too late?

Modifies a noun

  • twist: The first plot twist is lifted directly from The Woman in White.

Noun used with modifier

  • scatter: SCATTER Set this keyword to generate a scatter plot.

Preposition: of

  • land: Jeremiah buys a plot of land from his cousin.
plot usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

plot quotes

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.

-Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

Ay, now the plot thickens very much upon us.

-Buckingham, GeorgeVilliers, 2nd Duke of

Father declared he was going to buya new plot in the cemetery, a plot all for himself.'And I'll buy one on a corner,' he added triumphantly,'where I can get out.'

-Day, Clarence Shepard

plot quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"plot." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/plot>

APA Style

plot. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/plot

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment