lot

Less common meanings

4. 4
   auction itemnouncountable

   One thing or a group of things sold as one, or a batch of things made together.

   The painting was the most expensive lot at the auction.

   Bidders competed for the first lot of the day.

   Similarbatch, set, item

5. 5
   group (people)nouncolloquialcountable

   A group of people thought of together as one bunch.

   That lot never cleans up after themselves.

   The new lot of interns started on Monday.

   UsageSay that lot for that group of people.

   Similargroup, crowd, gang

   Note
6. 6
   everythingnoundefinite

   All of something, with nothing left out.

   Like emptying a whole box, not just taking one thing out.

   She ate the whole lot in one sitting.

   He packed up his books and sold the lot.

   UsageSay the whole lot to mean all of it.

   Similareverything, all

   Oppositenothing

   Note
7. 7
   casting tokennouncountable

   A small object, like a slip of paper, used to choose something by chance, or choosing in this way.

   Like picking a name out of a hat to decide who wins.

   We drew lots to decide who would wash the dishes.

   The teacher picked the winner by lot, pulling names from a hat.

   UsageCommon phrases: draw lots, by lot.

   Note
8. 8
   nounarchaicuncountable

   Something that happens by chance and not because anyone planned it.

   But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, lot means chance, what happens without anyone planning it.

   Similarfate, chance, fortune, destiny, accident

   Oppositedesign

   Note
9. 9
   lottery prizenounarchaiccountable

   A prize that someone wins in a lottery.

   Similarprize

   Note
10. 10
    share outverbdatedtransitive

    To divide something and give out shares of it.

    Sometimes the contractor would lot the work out to some sub-contractor, and he, after the men had worked for a month, would run away, and we should never see the colour of his money.

    1851, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London PoorHere, lot means to divide up and give out shares of the work.

    Similarapportion, allocate, divide, distribute, share

    Note
11. 11
    count onverbdatedUSintransitive

    To count on or expect something.

    Similarrely, count, depend, bank, reckon

    Note
12. 12
    noun

    An old unit of weight once used in Europe, about a thirtieth of a pound.