plot — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.

   Synonyms

   storyline

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable consequence of all that went before.

2. An area or land used for building on or planting on.

   Synonyms

   parcel

3. A grave.

   Examples

   He's buried in the family plot.

4. A ground plan, map; a nautical chart.

5. A sketch or outline detailing the arrangement of something; a plan.

6. A synopsis of a literary work.

7. A graph or diagram drawn by hand or produced by a mechanical or electronic device.

   Synonyms

   scheme

   Examples

   I was told to fly out on a vector of 100 degrees to meet a strong plot of aircraft 30 miles from the coast.

8. A secret plan to achieve an end, the end or means usually being illegal or otherwise questionable.

   Synonyms

   conspiracyintriguemachinationscheme

   Examples

   The plot would have enabled them to get a majority on the board.

   The assassination of Lincoln was part of a larger plot.

   More examples (2)

   I have o'erheard a plot of death.

   O, think what anxious moments pass between / The birth of plots and their last fatal periods!

9. Contrivance; deep reach thought; ability to plot or intrigue.

   Examples

   a man of much plot

10. Participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.

    Examples

    And when Christ saith, Who marries the divorced commits adultery, it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce.

11. A plan; a purpose.

    Synonyms

    design

    Examples

    no other plot in their religion but serve God and save their souls

12. Attractive physical attributes of a fictional character; assets.

    Usage

    • euphemistic
    • Slang

    Examples

    Actor X has some great plot near the end of E07.

Verb

1. To conceive (a crime, misdeed etc).

   Usage

   • Intransitive
   • Transitive

   Examples

   They had plotted a robbery.

   They were plotting against the king.

2. To trace out (a graph or diagram).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   They plotted the number of edits per day.

3. To mark (a point on a graph, chart, etc).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   Every five minutes they plotted their position.

   This treatise plotteth down Cornwall as it now standeth.

Noun

1. a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

   Synonyms

   secret plangame

   Broader terms

   schemestrategy

   Examples

   they concocted a plot to discredit the governor

   I saw through his little game from the start

2. a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation

   Synonyms

   plot of landplot of groundpatch

   Broader terms

   tractpiece of landpiece of groundparcel of landparcel

   Examples

   a bean plot

   a cabbage patch

   More examples (1)

   a briar patch

3. the story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.

   Broader terms

   story

   Examples

   the characters were well drawn but the plot was banal

4. a chart or graph showing the movements or progress of an object

   Broader terms

   chartgraph

Verb

1. plan secretly, usually something illegal

   Broader terms

   plan

   Examples

   They plotted the overthrow of the government

2. make a schematic or technical drawing that shows interactions among variables or how something is constructed

   Synonyms

   diagram

   Broader terms

   draw

3. make a plot of

   Synonyms

   plat

   Broader terms

   map

   Examples

   Plat the town

4. devise the sequence of events in (a literary work or a play, movie, or ballet)

   Broader terms

   planprojectcontrivedesign

   Examples

   the writer is plotting a new novel