# plot

Pronunciation: say "PLOT" US /plɑt/, UK /plɒt/

## Noun

1. The course of a story, made up of connected events that unfold gradually, sometimes in surprising ways.
   - Simple: The series of events that make up a story.
   - _Critics praised the novel's intricate plot._
   - _The film's plot unravels through a series of flashbacks._
2. A secret plan to achieve a goal, usually by illegal or otherwise questionable means.
   - Simple: A secret plan to do something wrong or against the law.
   - _Investigators uncovered a plot to assassinate the senator._
   - _The rebels hatched a plot to seize the capital before dawn._
3. A small piece of ground marked out for a particular use, such as building, growing plants, or burial.
   - Simple: A small piece of land set aside for a particular use, such as building, gardening, or burial.
   - _The developer divided the field into twelve building plots._
   - _Each family was given a plot to farm._
6. A graph or diagram, drawn by hand or produced by a machine or computer.
   - Simple: A graph or diagram that shows information, drawn by hand or made by a computer.
   - _The scatter plot revealed a clear upward trend._
   - _Researchers compared several plots side by side._
9. The attractive physical features of a fictional character; good looks or assets. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A made-up character's attractive looks or body.
   - _Half the comments praised the character's plot rather than the actual storyline._
   - _Fans joked that the heroine's new swimsuit outfit gave her far more plot than the story ever did._

## Verb

4. To secretly plan a crime or other wrongdoing.
   - Simple: To secretly plan a crime or something harmful.
   - _The officers plotted a coup against the government._
   - _Several nobles met in secret to plot against the young king._
5. To mark points in their correct positions on a graph, chart, or map, or to draw a graph or curve from data or an equation.
   - Simple: To mark points on a graph or map, or to draw a graph from numbers.
   - _Plot the coordinates carefully before drawing the curve._
   - _The student plotted each measurement on the grid._
7. To design the chain of events that forms the storyline of a novel, film, play, or game.
   - Simple: To plan what will happen in the story of a book, movie, play, or game.
   - _Many novelists plot each chapter on index cards before they start drafting._
   - _The season was plotted so tightly that every episode set up the next one._

## Noun

8. A plan or the purpose behind an action. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A plan, or the aim a person wants to reach.

## Other meanings

- (noun) Involvement or participation in a scheme or conspiracy.
- (noun) Skill in contrivance; the ability to scheme or intrigue.

## Origin

From Middle English "plot," from late Old English "plot" ("a plot of ground"), of uncertain origin: perhaps from Proto-Germanic, or from a misdivision of Old English "land-splott" ("a small piece of land"). Compare Middle Low German "plet" ("patch, strip of cloth"), German "Bletz" ("rags, strip of land"), and possibly Gothic "plat" ("a patch, rags").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/plot (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).