plot

Main Entry:: ¹plot
Pronunciation:: \ˈplät\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Old English
Date:: before 12th century

1 a: a small area of planted ground <a vegetable plot> b: a small piece of land in a cemetery c: a measured piece of land : lot2: ground plan , plat3: the plan or main story (as of a movie or literary work)4 [perhaps back-formation from complot] : a secret plan for accomplishing a usually evil or unlawful end : intrigue5: a graphic representation (as a chart)

— plot·less

\-ləs\ adjective

— plot·less·ness noun

synonyms plot , intrigue , machination , conspiracy , cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end. plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme <an assassination plot>. intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity <backstairs intrigue>. machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means <the machinations of a party boss>. conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery <a conspiracy to fix prices>. cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence <a cabal among powerful senators>.

synonyms see in addition plan

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See a map of "plot" in the Visual Thesaurus

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