lot

noun (1)

\ ˈlät

Definition of lot

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : an object used as a counter in determining a question by chance

2a : the use of lots as a means of deciding something One was chosen by lot to represent the group.

b : the resulting choice

3a : something that comes to one upon whom a lot has fallen : share The will provided for equal lots for all the children.

b : one's way of life or worldly fate : fortune the lot of man, to suffer and to die— Alexander Pope

4a : a portion of land

b : a measured parcel of land having fixed boundaries and designated on a plot or survey built his home on a half-acre lot

c : a motion-picture studio and its adjoining property

d : an establishment for the storage or sale of motor vehicles a used car lot

5a : a number of units of an article, a single article, or a parcel of articles offered as one item (as in an auction sale) Lot 45 is a dining room set.

b : all the members of a present group, kind, or quantity —usually used with the sampled the whole lot of desserts

6a : a number of associated persons : set fell in with a rough lot

b : kind, sort The recruits were a sorry lot.

7 : a considerable quantity or extent a lot of money lots of friends

all over the lot

: covering a wide or varied range received bids all over the lot

a lot

1 : to a considerable degree or extent this is a lot nicer

2 : often, frequently runs a lot every day

3 : lots

lot

verb

lotted; lotting

Definition of lot (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : allot, apportion

2 : to form or divide into lots

Lot

noun (2)

\ ˈlät

Definition of Lot (Entry 3 of 4)

: a nephew of Abraham who according to the account in Genesis escaped from the doomed city of Sodom with his wife who turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back

Lot

geographical name

\ ˈlät

, ˈlȯt\

Definition of Lot (Entry 4 of 4)

river 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in southern France flowing west into the Garonne River

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about lot

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Choose the Right Synonym for lot

Noun (1)

fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end. fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome. the fate of the submarine is unknown destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end. the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance it was her lot to die childless , portion implying the apportioning of good and evil. remorse was his daily portion doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate. if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

Examples of lot in a Sentence

Noun (1)

He bought the vacant lot across the street. They own the house on the corner lot. We took a tour of the Universal lot. The organization has done much to improve the lot of underprivileged youth. Unhappy with her lot in life, she moved to the city to start over.

Verb

everyone is lotted opportunities in life, and it's their responsibility to take them

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Basically, there's a lot more research to be done here before anyone can definitively say that pelvic floor physical therapy is the answer to pelvic floor dysfunction. — Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, "What to Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Your Pelvic Floor," 10 May 2019 There have been lots of definitive Marvel series titles announced, but not so much on the Star Wars front. — John Gilpatrick, Popular Mechanics, "Everything We Know About the Future of Star Wars," 10 May 2019 Your Memorial Day weekend barbecue—and every summer cookout thereafter—just got a whole lot cooler, because smart grills are totally a thing now. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "Your Summer Barbecue Isn't Complete Without Traeger's Smart Grill," 9 May 2019 Since beginning her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan has been developing a royal style of her own, which includes a lot of coat dresses. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Is Obsessed with Trench Coat Dresses and So Are We," 8 May 2019 This is all especially true for large supermarkets, which need a lot of land and parking, as well as the ability to accommodate large trucks. — Jessica Booth, Redbook, "Everything You Need To Know About Food Deserts," 29 Apr. 2019 In a lot of places, burning a brush pile isn’t permitted at certain times of the year, so check your local regulations. — Henry Robertson, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Brush Clearing Tips and Equipment," 19 Apr. 2019 Most hiking boots are going to give you a firm, grippy, sole with a lot of ankle support and a stable base. — James Lynch, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Hiking Boots for Exploring the Outdoors," 9 Apr. 2019 For bed linens and curtains, a subtle palette in creamy shades with lots of texture keeps things tranquil while allowing the accessories to make the biggest impact. — Heather Corcoran, ELLE Decor, "How to Bring Old Hollywood Into Your Home," 19 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near lot

Statistics for lot

Last Updated

13 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for lot

The first known use of lot was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for lot

lot

noun

Financial Definition of lot

What It Is

A lot is a securities trade for a “standard” number of trading units. In stock trading, a lot is 100 shares (also called a "round lot"). However, inactive stocks generally trade in 10-share lots.

How It Works

Lots are the standard trading amount, and thus they usually incur the most favorable commission costs. For example, if you wanted to buy six lots of Company XYZ stock, you would be buying 600 shares.

Investors, especially individuals, frequently cannot or do not want to bear the expense of trading shares in round lots, however, which is why most brokers also accept “odd-lot” trades (though they may charge a higher commission for doing so). However, the advent of electronic and online trading platforms has reduced, and in some cases eliminated, these odd-lot premiums.

Why It Matters

Lot investors tend to be larger investors. The ratio of odd-lot buying to odd-lot selling, on the other hand, is often used to evaluate small-investor sentiment.

Source: Investing Answers

lot

noun

\ ˈlät

Kids Definition of lot

1 : an object used in deciding something by chance or the use of such an object to decide something

2 : fate sense 2 It was their lot to be poor.

3 : a piece or plot of land a vacant lot

4 : a large number or amount lots of books a lot of help

lot

noun

Legal Definition of lot

1 : a portion of land specifically : a measured parcel of contiguous land having fixed boundaries and recorded (as on a plat) with the appropriate authority or office (as a registry of deeds)

2 : a single article, a number of units of an article, or a parcel of articles offered as one item (as in an auction sale) specifically : a parcel or single article under the Uniform Commercial Code which is the subject matter of a separate sale, lease, or delivery whether or not it is sufficient to perform the contract — see also odd lot, round lot