[plot] n [ME, fr. OE] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a small area of planted ground "a vegetable ~" 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 of a literary work
4: a secret plan for accomplishing a usu. evil or unlawful end: intrigue
5: a graphic representation (as a chart) -- plot.less adj -- plot.less.ness n syn 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 usu. 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". syn see in addition plan
[2]plot vb plot.ted ; plot.ting vt (1588) 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 esp. secretly
5: to invent or devise the plot of (a literary work) ~ vi 1: to form a plot: scheme
2: to be located by means of coordinates "the data ~ at a single point"