plot
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /plɒt/
ipa: /plɑt/
ipa: /plɑt̞/
note: Dublin
ipa: /pläʔ/
note: Dublin
ipa: /plä/
rhymes: -ɒt
Forms: form: plots
Etymology: From Middle English plot, plotte, from Old English plot (“a plot of ground”), from Proto-Germanic *plataz, *platjaz (“a patch”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Middle Low German plet (“patch, strip of cloth, rags”), German Bletz (“rags, bits, strip of land”), and possibly Gothic 𐍀𐌻𐌰𐍄 (plat, “a patch, rags”). See also plat. See also complot for an influence on or source of sense 5.
Sense 9 is a back-formation from for the plot.
Senses: examples: text: 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.
ref: c. 1725, Alexander Pope, View of the Epic Poem:
topics: human-sciences
linguistics
narratology
sciences
synonyms: storyline
glosses: The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
synonyms: parcel
glosses: An area or land used for building on or planting on.
examples: text: He's buried in the family plot.
glosses: A grave.
examples: text: I was told to fly out on a vector of 100 degrees to meet a strong plot of aircraft 30 miles from the coast.
ref: 2017, Mark Chambers, Tony Holmes, Nakajima B5N ‘Kate’ and B6N ‘Jill’ Units, page 32:
synonyms: word: scheme
word: chart
word: design
word: diagram
word: map
word: graph
word: graphic
word: plan
word: plot
word: schematic
word: scheme
glosses: A graph or diagram drawn by hand or produced by a mechanical or electronic device.
examples: text: The plot would have enabled them to get a majority on the board.
text: The assassination of Lincoln was part of a larger plot.
text: I have o'erheard a plot of death.
ref: c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi]:
text: O, think what anxious moments pass between / The birth of plots and their last fatal periods!
ref: 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:
synonyms: conspiracy
intrigue
machination
scheme
glosses: A secret plan to achieve an end, the end or means usually being illegal or otherwise questionable.
examples: text: a man of much plot
ref: a. 1669, John Denham, On Mr Thomas Killigrew's Return from Venice, and Mr William Murrey's from Scotland:
glosses: Contrivance; deep reach thought; ability to plot or intrigue.
examples: text: And when Christ saith, Who marries the divorced commits adultery, it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce.
ref: 1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons] […], →OCLC:
glosses: Participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.
examples: text: no other plot in their religion but serve God and save their souls
ref: 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:
synonyms: word: design
word: blueprint
word: design
word: plan
word: plot
word: project
word: proposal
word: scheme
glosses: A plan; a purpose.
examples: text: Actor X has some great plot near the end of E07.
topics: lifestyle
glosses: Attractive physical attributes of a fictional character; assets.
Derived terms: A plot
applot
Ashby plot
bagplot
barplot
beach ball plot
beanplot
bioplot
biplot
blobplot
box and whisker plot
box and whiskers plot
box plot
B plot
by-plot
doghouse plot
Fermi-Kurie plot
forest plot
funnel plot
grass plot
green plot
Gunpowder Plot
heat plot
Joy plot
Kurie plot
line plot
lose the plot
mosaic plot
plot armor
plot armour
plot bunny
plot coupon
plot device
plot hole
plotless
plot line
plot point
plot twist
plot-twisty
Q-Q plot
Ramachandran plot
raster plot
ridgeline plot
scatter plot
scree plot
souvenir plot
spine plot
star plot
subplot
swarm plot
the plot thickens
plot thickens
violin plo
volcano plot
waterfall plot