n.
Pronunciation: ' plät
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 : 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 \ -l ə s \ 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