What is plot? Pronunciation and usage in English

plot means . Learn how to pronounce and use plot through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of plot

plotnoun

/plɒt/
Definition & pronunciation of plot

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "plot" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and they're subtly different. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈplɒt/ (rhymes with "pot")
  • Breakdown:
    • ˈpl – This is the stressed syllable. It sounds like "pl" as in "play."
    • ɒ – This is the vowel sound. It's a short, open "ah" sound – like in "father" but shorter and less rounded.
    • t – This is a simple "t" sound.

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • Pronunciation: /plɑːt/ (rhymes with "salt")
  • Breakdown:
    • pl – Similar to the American pronunciation, "pl" as in "play."
    • ɑː – This is a broader "ah" sound, like in "car" or "father". It's a longer, more open vowel than the American pronunciation.
    • t – A simple "t" sound.

Here's a quick way to remember:

  • American: Think “pot” – short “ah” sound.
  • British: Think “salt” – longer, broader “ah” sound.

Resources to Listen:

To help me give you the most relevant pronunciation, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from (roughly)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word plot in English

Let's break down how to use the word "plot" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Plot (as in a Story's Plan - Most Common)

  • Meaning: This is the most common way people use "plot." It refers to the sequence of events in a story, play, film, or other narrative. It’s the overall plan or scheme of what happens.
  • Examples:
    • “The plot of the movie was surprisingly complex.”
    • “I’m reading a thriller with a really intricate plot.”
    • “The author cleverly developed the plot to keep us guessing.”
    • “She changed the plot of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.”

2. Plot (as in a Scheme or Plan - Often Negative)

  • Meaning: This refers to a secret plan, especially one that’s dishonest or illegal. It suggests a deliberate effort to achieve something, often through trickery or manipulation.
  • Examples:
    • "The government uncovered a plot to overthrow the president."
    • "He was suspected of being involved in a drug plot."
    • “The spy revealed the enemy’s plot to sabotage the mission.”
    • “Don’t fall for his smooth talk; he’s part of a plot.”

3. Plot (as in to Conceal or Plan - Verb)

  • Meaning: To secretly plan something; to conceal a plan. It’s about actively thinking out a course of action.
  • Examples:
    • "The criminals plotted their robbery for months."
    • “The fox plotted to outsmart the farmer.”
    • “She plotted her revenge carefully.”

4. Plot (as in to Cover Something Up - Verb)

  • Meaning: To disguise or conceal something to prevent it from being discovered.
  • Examples:
    • "The company tried to plot the scandal from the news."
    • “The detective realized the killer had plotted to destroy the evidence.”

5. Plot (as in Land - Geographical)

  • Meaning: An area of land, especially one used for cultivation.
  • Examples:
    • "The farmer's plot of land was very fertile."
    • "They bought a small plot of land in the countryside.”

6. Plot (as in a Portion of Land - Also Geographical)

  • Meaning: A section of land, often for a specific purpose (like a garden bed or a building site).
  • Examples:
    • “The garden was divided into several plots.”
    • “The construction company purchased a large plot for the new office building.”

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Meaning Part of Speech Example
Story's plan Noun “The plot of the novel was brilliant.”
Secret scheme Noun “They uncovered a conspiracy plot.”
To secretly plan Verb “He plotted his escape.”
To conceal/disguise Verb “She plotted to hide the truth.”
Area of land Noun “A small plot of garden.”

Tips for Choosing the Right "Plot":

  • Context is key: Pay attention to the surrounding words to figure out which meaning is intended.
  • Consider the verb form: If you’re talking about doing something secretly, you’re using the verb "to plot."
  • Think about the subject: When discussing stories, you’ll almost always be referring to the “plot” as a noun.

Do you want me to give you some more examples, or perhaps you'd like to practice using the word "plot" in a sentence?

Synonyms for the word plot

Idioms of the word plot

lose the plot
(British English, informal)to lose your ability to understand or deal with what is happening
    the plot thickens
    (humorous)used to say that a situation is becoming more complicated and difficult to understand

      Practice with vocabulary plot

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. The intricate ______ of the novel kept readers guessing until the very last chapter.
      2. Investors often look for a small ______ of land near the city for future development.
      3. The team's marketing ______ focused on reaching a younger demographic through social media.
      4. During the meeting, we carefully analyzed the historical ______ of events leading up to the crisis.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

      1. Which of the following terms primarily refers to the sequence of events and actions that make up a story? a) character arc b) setting c) plot d) theme

      2. A secret scheme or conspiracy, often with malicious intent, can be described as a(n): a) agenda b) strategy c) plot d) intrigue

      3. When you visually represent statistical information by marking data points on a graph or chart, you are said to: a) tabulate b) diagram c) plot d) illustrate

      4. Which of these words best describes a detailed course of action designed to achieve a long-term goal? a) tactic b) scheme c) strategy d) blueprint

      5. A designated area of land, often with specific boundaries or for a particular purpose, could be referred to as a: a) region b) parcel c) territory d) sector

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. The series of events in the story was complex and had many unexpected turns. Rewrite using "plot":
      2. A group of disgruntled employees secretly planned to undermine the new company policy. Rewrite using "plot" or a related word form:
      3. The economist represented the historical unemployment data on a two-dimensional chart. Rewrite without using "plot":

      Answer:

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. plot
      2. plot
      3. strategy
      4. sequence

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. c) plot
      2. c) plot, d) intrigue
      3. c) plot
      4. c) strategy
      5. b) parcel

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. The story had a complex plot with many unexpected turns.
      2. A group of disgruntled employees was plotting to undermine the new company policy.
      3. The economist charted the historical unemployment data on a two-dimensional chart.

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