I. ˈplät 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 : lot
2. : ground plan , plat
3. : 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 : intrigue
5. : 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
Synonym: see in addition plan .
II. verb
( plot·ted ; plot·ting )
Date: 1588
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make a plot, map, or plan of
b. : to mark or note on or as if on a map or chart
2. : to lay out in plots
3.
a. : to locate (a point) by means of coordinates
b. : to locate (a curve) by plotted points
c. : to represent (an equation) by means of a curve so constructed
4. : to plan or contrive especially secretly
5. : to invent or devise the plot of (as a movie or a literary work)
intransitive verb
1. : to form a plot : scheme
2. : to be located by means of coordinates
the data plot at a single point