plot
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++plot1 /plɒt $ plɑːt/ ●●○ W3 noun [countable] 1 plan 计划PLAN a secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal 密谋，阴谋，秘密计划plot to do something a plot to bomb the UN headquarters 炸毁联合国总部的阴谋plot against a plot against the king 推翻国王的阴谋 The court heard how she and her lover hatched a plot (=planned a plot) to kill her husband. 法庭听取了她和情人密谋杀害她丈夫的案情。 The plot to overthrow the military government was foiled (=prevented from being successful). 推翻军政府的秘密计划被挫败了。 an assassination plot 一宗暗杀阴谋► see thesaurus at plan2 story/film 故事/电影ALSTORY the events that form the main story of a book, film, or play 〔书、电影、戏剧的〕情节 The plot was a little confusing. 情节有些费解。 We discover that Jack isn’t as innocent as he seems, as the plot unfolds (=gradually becomes clearer). 随着情节的展开，我们发现杰克并不像表面上看起来那么清白。3. the plot thickens COMPLICATEDused to say that events seem to be becoming more complicated – often used humorously 情况开始复杂起来，事情越来越纠缠不清了〔常为幽默用法〕4 piece of land 一块土地 a) LAND/GROUNDa small piece of land for building or growing things on 〔建筑或种植用的〕小块土地[地皮] a two-acre plot of land 一块两英亩的土地 a vegetable plot 一块菜地 b) MXa piece of land that a particular family owns in a cemetery, in which members of the family are buried when they die 〔属于某家族的〕一块墓地 a burial plot 一块墓地5. drawing 画 American EnglishAA a drawing that shows the plan of a building at ground level 底层平面图 SYN ground plan → lose the plot at lose(14)n COLLOCATIONSverbsbe involved in a plotHe was involved in a plot to kidnap the pope.mastermind a plot (=organize it)He is accused of masterminding a plot to bring down the government.uncover/discover a plotThey didn’t suspect that their plot had been uncovered.foil a plot (=prevent it from being successful)The plot was foiled when he was stopped by US Customs agents.hatch a plot (=make one)They have admitted hatching a plot to kill the president.NOUN + plota murder plotHe was questioned about an attempted murder plot.an assassination plotThe assassination plot to kill General de Gaulle was unsuccessful.a terrorist plotPolice foiled a terrorist plot to attack a nuclear reactor.phrasesthe victim of a plotHe was the victim of a plot by his political opponents.be part of a plotThese accusations are part of a plot to discredit him.
Examples from the Corpus
plot• Jeffrey's family and supporters suspected it to be a plot hatched by Captain Lake and his friends.• Janis was suspected of masterminding a plot against US airlines in East Asia.• The book doesn't have much of a plot, but it's characters are fantastic.• a plot to assassinate the President.• a family plot• He is the first person to be buried in this family plot, which he has bought.• The harbor; suddenly, was a coastal graveyard, one headstone overturning, and one plot coming undone.• Although the plot failed, the reaction it engendered is significant.• But then the plot began to thicken.• The plot was boring, but the special effects were good.• The plot was quickly discovered, and five men were arrested.• The plot was so complicated that I was totally confused by the time I was two chapters in.• The second is currently being tendered, and the bids are to be invited soon for the third plot.plot to do something• The money will be used to top up its land bank crucial to future house building plans from 15,000 plots to 20,000.• The bomber in Vallejo, police said, was part of a plot to disrupt the criminal justice system there.• Samper has claimed those accusations were a plot to remove him from power because he has tried to help the poor.• A plot to bury global warming?• Jurors ruled that Nichols plotted to blow up the building.• She's refuting claims that she thinks the famous topless photos were a Palace plot to discredit the Duchess.• If you have sufficient plots to sell, you can afford to pay for upkeep on the rest of the place.• Three weird sisters, three other witches and three murderers figure in the plot to provide on-stage movement.plot unfolds• The plot unfolds engagingly, with some very entertaining video segments.plot of land• Can you double the number of homes on a plot of land without making the residents claustrophobic or the neighbors ballistic?• During the two world wars the growing of potatoes in every available plot of land was actively encouraged.• Individual families could farm plots of land leased from the state and sell any surpluses in local markets.• Every family will be housed and have an individual plot of land.• You are buying a house precisely because it comes with a large plot of land.• Dryden spent his £13,000 redundancy money on the plot of land where he illegally built the bungalow.• Narou Chaibou, who lives near Illela, can not feed his family with the plot of land he owns.plot2 ●○○ verb (plotted, plotting) 1 [intransitive, transitive]PLAN to make a secret plan to harm a person or organization, especially a political leader or government 密谋，秘密策划，图谋plot to do something They had plotted to blow up the White House. 他们曾密谋炸毁白宫。plot against He suspected that the military were secretly plotting against him. 他怀疑军方正在密谋推翻他。 The minister was found guilty of plotting the downfall of the government. 那名部长被判犯有阴谋颠覆政府罪。 the story of a woman who plots revenge 一个女人策划报复的故事2 [transitive] (also plot out)LINE to draw marks or a line to represent facts, numbers etc 绘制 We plotted a graph to show the increase in sales figures this year. 我们绘制了一个图表来显示今年销售额的增长情况。plot something on something You can plot all these numbers on one diagram for comparison. 你可以在图表上标出所有这些数字以供对比。3 [transitive] (also plot out)TTATTWPLACE to mark, calculate, or follow the path of an aircraft or ship, for example on a map 标绘[计算，追踪]〔飞机或船只〕的移动路线 We plotted a course across the Pacific. 我们绘制出一条穿越太平洋的航线。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
plot• Hence, neither the historical dynamics of myths nor their impact upon present culture can be traced with confidence or systematically plotted.• Plotting against the government was punishable by death.• Eddie is merely reactive plotting device.• Crumey has his fun, but plots his farce elegantly.• The same data are plotted in b but the species are categorised into three different life styles denoted by different symbols.• The results are plotted in figure 6.1.• The results are plotted in figure 9.10.• Cheaper flatbed plotters, capable of plotting on sheets of A4 or A3 size paper, can be interfaced to personal computers.• She spent months plotting revenge.• I intricately plotted the conversations beforehand.• The court heard how Mrs Taylor and her lover had plotted the murder of her husband.• Three men were charged with plotting to plant the biggest bomb ever in Central London.plot to do something• They cluster around telephone boxes and the bus station, plotting to head north.• According to others, she and some friends had plotted to kidnap her.• Another extraordinary tale says that Ra, convinced mankind was plotting to overthrow him, sent Hathor to kill them all.• At the end of August Kerensky abruptly denounced Kornilov for plotting to overthrow the government.• Eighteen months later, Wei resurfaced when charges were brought against him for plotting to overthrow the government.• James Caan is the corrupt miner who plots to seize the rights.• This is not, however the perk it seems, as clients were perpetually dreaming and plotting to stop dealing with Harvard.plotted ... course• Ahab plotted a course which he hoped would take him to the whale.From Longman Business Dictionaryplotplot1 /plɒtplɑːt/ noun [countable]PROPERTY a small piece of land for building or growing things ona vacant plot (=empty piece of land)a plot of landplotplot2 verb (plotted, plotting) [transitive] to draw a line or curve that shows facts or figuresWe plotted a graph to show the increase in sales figures this year.→ See Verb tableOrigin plot1 Old English “piece of land”plot1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1plot2 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese
plan a by Corpus secret group a Business
plot
plot1 W3 /plɒt $ plɑːt/ 
noun [countable]
plot to do something
a plot to bomb the UN headquarters
plot against
a plot against the king
The court heard how she and her lover hatched a plot (=planned a plot) to kill her husband.
The plot to overthrow the military government was foiled (=prevented from being successful).
an assassination plot
2. STORY/FILM the events that form the main story of a book, film, or play:
The plot was a little confusing.
We discover that Jack isn’t as innocent as he seems, as the plot unfolds (=gradually becomes clearer).
3. the plot thickens used to say that events seem to be becoming more complicated – often used humorously
4. PIECE OF LAND
a. a small piece of land for building or growing things on:
a two-acre plot of land
a vegetable plot
b. a piece of land that a particular family owns in a cemetery, in which members of the family are buried when they die:
a burial plot
5. DRAWING American English a drawing that shows the plan of a building at ground level
SYN ground plan
⇨ lose the plot at lose(14)
■ verbs
▪be involved in a plot He was involved in a plot to kidnap the Pope.
▪mastermind a plot (=organize it) He is accused of masterminding a plot to bring down the government.
▪uncover/discover a plot They didn’t suspect that their plot had been uncovered.
▪foil a plot (=prevent it from being successful) The plot was foiled when he was stopped by US Customs agents.
▪hatch a plot (=make one) They have admitted hatching a plot to kill the president.
■ NOUN + plot
▪a murder plot He was questionned about about an attempted murder plot.
▪an assassination plot The assassination plot to kill General de Gaulle was unsuccessful.
▪a terrorist plot Police foiled a terrorist plot to attack a nuclear reactor.
■ phrases
▪the victim of a plot He was the victim of a plot by his political opponents.
▪be part of a plot These accusations are part of a plot to discredit him.
▪ plan a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detail: Leaders outlined a plan to end the fighting.
▪plot/conspiracy a secret plan to do something bad or illegal, made by a group of people: There was a plot to assassinate the President. | a terrorist conspiracy
▪scheme British English an official plan that is intended to help people: The government has introduced a new scheme to help young people find work.
▪strategy a carefully designed plan which is intended to achieve a particular purpose over a long period of time: the company’s business strategy | The government’s economic strategy has been criticized by many experts. | We need to develop effective strategies for combating the sale of counterfeit goods.
▪initiative a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular aim: a peace initiative | a major new initiative to tackle street crime
▪policy a plan that members of a government, political party, company etc agree on, that states how they intend to deal with a particular subject or problem: the government’s immigration policy | It’s company policy to allow people to work from home.
▪programme British English, program American English a series of activities that a government or organization organizes, which aims to achieve something important and will continue for a long time: a five-year programme which will create 2000 new jobs | federal programs for low-income housing
plot2 verb (past tense and past participle plotted, present participle plotting)
1. [intransitive and transitive] to make a secret plan to harm a person or organization, especially a political leader or government
plot to do something
They had plotted to blow up the White House.
plot against
He suspected that the military were secretly plotting against him.
The minister was found guilty of plotting the downfall of the government.
the story of a woman who plots revenge
2. [transitive] (also plot out) to draw marks or a line to represent facts, numbers etc:
We plotted a graph to show the increase in sales figures this year.
plot something on something
You can plot all these numbers on one diagram for comparison.
3. [transitive] (also plot out) to mark, calculate, or follow the path of an aircraft or ship, for example on a map:
We plotted a course across the Pacific.
| I |
noun [countable] Language: Old English
Origin: 'piece of land'
1. PLAN a secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegalOrigin: 'piece of land'
plot to do something
plot against
2. STORY/FILM the events that form the main story of a book, film, or play:
3. the plot thickens used to say that events seem to be becoming more complicated – often used humorously
4. PIECE OF LAND
a. a small piece of land for building or growing things on:
b. a piece of land that a particular family owns in a cemetery, in which members of the family are buried when they die:
5. DRAWING American English a drawing that shows the plan of a building at ground level
SYN ground plan
⇨ lose the plot at lose(14)
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verb (past tense and past participle plotted, present participle plotting)1. [intransitive and transitive] to make a secret plan to harm a person or organization, especially a political leader or government
plot to do something
plot against
2. [transitive] (also plot out) to draw marks or a line to represent facts, numbers etc:
plot something on something
3. [transitive] (also plot out) to mark, calculate, or follow the path of an aircraft or ship, for example on a map:
Being a writer 当作家
write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography写／发表文学作品／诗集／小说／书／故事／诗歌／长篇小说／评论／自传 become a writer/novelist/playwright成为作家／小说家／剧作家 find/have a publisher/an agent找到／有出版商／代理人 have a new book out出版一部新书 edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript编辑／修订／校对书／文章／原稿 dedicate a book/poem to…把一本书／一首诗献给…
Plot, character and atmosphere 情节、人物和氛围
construct/create/weave/weave sth into a complex narrative构思／创作／编写／把某事编成一部复杂的叙事小说 advance/drive the plot推进故事情节的发展 introduce/present the protagonist/a character介绍主人公／一个人物 describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(sb as) a hero/villain描述人物／英雄／坏蛋；把一个人物描绘成…；把某人描绘成英雄／坏蛋 create an exciting/a tense atmosphere营造一种令人兴奋／紧张的气氛 build/heighten the suspense/tension制造／增加悬念／紧张气氛 evoke/capture the pathos of the situation唤起对这种状况的同情 convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…传达…情感／思想；给人…印象／感觉 engage the reader吸引读者 seize/capture/grip the (reader's) imagination抓住（读者的）想象力 arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)唤起（读者的）情感／同情 lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm缺乏想象力／情感／精心组织／节奏感
Language, style and imagery 语言、风格和形象语言
use/employ language/imagery/humour/( humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a deviceespecially
使用语言／形象语言／幽默／意象／象征／暗喻／手段 use/adopt/develop a style/technique使用／采用／形成一种风格／技巧 be rich in/be full of symbolism富含象征意义 evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…唤起…的形象／感觉 create/achieve an effect创造／取得效果 maintain/lighten the tone维持／缓和基调 introduce/develop an idea/a theme引入／发展一种思想／一个主题 inspire a novel/a poet/sb's work/sb's imagination促成小说的创作；给诗人以灵感；促成某人作品的诞生；激发某人的想象力
Reading and criticism 阅读与评论
read an author/sb's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage读一个作家的作品／某人的著作／小说／诗集／一篇文章／一首诗／一部小说／一个章节／一段文章 review a book/a novel/sb's work评论一本书／一部小说／某人的作品 give sth/get/have/receive a good/bad review给予／得到好评／恶评 be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece被誉为一部杰作 quote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/author引用一个短语／一行诗／一节诗／一段文章／作者的话 provoke/spark discussion/criticism引发讨论／评论 study/interpret/understand a text/passage研读／解读／理解一篇文章／一段文章 translate sb's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem翻译某人的作品／一篇文章／一段文章／一部小说／一首诗
land an area of ground, especially one that is used for a particular purpose 尤指作特定用途的土地、地带 ：◆ agricultural land 农业用地 lot ( a piece of land that is used or intended for a particular purposeNAmE 指作某种用途的一块地、场地 ：◆ building lots 建筑用地 ◆ a parking lot 停车场 ground an area of land that is used for a particular purpose 指作特定用途的场地 ：◆ The kids were playing on waste ground near the school. 孩子们在学校附近的荒地玩耍。 ◆ the site of an ancient burial ground 古代墓地遗址
land, lot or ground? 用 land、lot 还是 ground？
space a large area of land that has no buildings on it 指无建筑物的大片空地、开阔地 ：◆ The city has plenty of open space. 这座城市有很多开阔的空地。 ◆ the wide open spaces of the Canadian prairies加拿大一片片广袤的草原 plot a small piece of land used or intended for a particular purpose 指专用的小块土地 ：◆ She bought a small plot of land to build a house.她买了一小块地盖房子。 ◆ a vegetable plot 一块菜圃
lot or plot? 用 lot 还是 plot？
Either a lot or aplot can be used for building on. Only aplot can also be used for growing vegetables or burying people.* lot 和 plot 均可作建筑用地。plot 亦可作菜地或墓地。
Patterns
an open spaceopen/empty/vacant/waste/derelict land/grounda(n) empty/vacant lot/plot
