I. ˈplät, usu -äd+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English plot, plotte patch, spot, plot (of ground), from Old English plot plot (of ground)
1.
a. : a small area of ground or of something on the ground ; especially : such an area devoted to a particular purpose
a little plot of ground
a garden plot
vegetable plots
a setting of well-kept lawns and flower plots
b. : a small portion of land in a cemetery usually containing two or more graves
buried in the family plot
c. : an area of land used for scientific study or experimentation : quadrat 2
an experimental plot
stems were taken at random in … different parts of the plots — Journal of Economic Entomology
proper selection of the sample or census plot — L.W.Wing
d.
(1) : a measured parcel of land
divided the tract into plots
houses … erected on plots ranging from a few to as many as 40 acres — American Guide Series: Florida
(2) : an assemblage of adjacent parcels forming a single land unit
concentrate the small … holdings into bigger plots — H.R.Lieberman
2. archaic : a spot or patch (as on the skin) differing from the surrounding surface
3. : a ground plan (as of a building or area) : plat
4.
a. : the plan or pattern of events or the main story of a literary work (as a novel, play, short story, or poem) comprising the gradual unfolding of a causally connected series of motivated incidents : narrative structure
complications of the plot
a detective story with an ingenious plot
a novel almost without plot
b. obsolete : plat VIII 3
5.
[probably back-formation from complot (I) ]
: a secret plan contrived by one or more persons for accomplishing a usually evil or unlawful end : conspiracy , intrigue
a plot to assassinate the king
a plot against the government
6.
a. : a chart or map showing the movements or progress of a craft (as a ship, submarine, airplane)
a plot of the ship's course … should also be kept — Manual of Seamanship
b. : a location on a chart or map marked by the intersection of bearings or celestial lines of position
c. : a tactical, navigational, or control center aboard ship
the gunnery liaison officer … feeding information to the fire control officer in plot — All Hands
7. : graph I 1
Synonyms:
conspiracy , cabal , intrigue , machination : plot suggests careful foresight in planning and a continuity or complexity of positive action by one or a number of persons of any sort
the great Jesuit plot for the destruction of Protestant England and the invasion and conquest of the island by vast armies — S.M.Crothers
conspiracy differs from plot mainly in that it may indicate the persons involved
Guy Fawkes was known as a member of the conspiracy
It may suggest secrecy and unity within the band and carry a melodramatic effect. It may also suggest less positive action
a conspiracy of silence
or occasionally philanthropic or benevolent aims. cabal almost always endows the persons involved with a degree of eminence and is used mainly in matters political
that moment at 1:20 in the morning of June, 1920, when a Senatorial cabal, the most venal since the days of President Grant, nominated Warren G. Harding for the Presidency — Irving Stone
intrigue suggests secret underhand maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity
intrigues framed against the royal power and directed toward the disruption of the state — Hilaire Belloc
the intrigue of special privilege in and upon the conquered countries — W.A.White
the intrigue for place and the control of influence — J.H.Plumb
machination suggests crafty maneuver, as though in an intrigue or plot
the devilish machinations of an enchanter masquerading as a pious hermit — J.L.Lowes
prevented authors and publishers from defeating the machinations of infringers — Margaret Nicholson
Synonym: see in addition plan .
II. verb
( plotted ; plotted ; plotting ; plots )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make a plot, map, or plan of : draw to scale : delineate
plotting this underground river — Martin Gardner
b. : to mark or note (as a site, position, or course) on or as if on a map or chart
had plotted the reef on his chart
plot … the exact position of the ship — Peter Heaton
plot a course to that goal — Time
plot the course of an airplane in flight from radar information
2. : to measure out (land) in plots — usually used with out
new residential districts are all plotted out
3.
a. : to locate and mark (a point) by means of coordinates
b. : to make (a curve) by marking out a number of plotted points
plotting the thermal conductivity versus mean temperature — Industrial Mineral Wool Products
c. : to represent graphically (a mathematical equation) by means of a curve so constructed
4. : to plan or contrive (as something evil or unlawful) especially secretly
plotted the murder of her husband
5. : to invent or devise the plot of (a literary work)
plotted his play carefully
intransitive verb
1. : to scheme secretly and underhandedly : conspire
plot for the coup d'etat — Geoffrey Bruun
2. : to develop or outline a literary plot
plots better than most novelists
Synonyms: see plan I
III. ˈplät transitive verb
also plote -lōt
( plotted ; plotted ; plotting ; plots also plotes )
Etymology: origin unknown
chiefly Scotland : to subject to intense heat : scald , scorch
IV. intransitive verb
: to be located by means of coordinates
the data plot at a single point