scheme

To plot, or contrive a plan; to maneuver.

Noun

  1. An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
  2. A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
    • a blue case, from which was drawn a scheme of nativity - 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for...
  3. A systematic plan of future action.
    • The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes. - c. 1713, Jonathan Swift, Thoughts on Various Subjects:
    • Originally the opening had doubtless marked the projection of another road, but the scheme had come to nothing. - 1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados:
    • There are schemes to transfer electrical energy from braking trains into local power grids, and even more radical plans for “moving platforms” that dock with high-speed trains. […] A “moving platform” scheme proposed by...

    Synonyms: blueprint design plan plot project proposal scheme

  4. A plot or secret, devious plan.

    Synonyms: conspiracy intrigue machination device

  5. An orderly combination of related parts.
    • the appearance and outward scheme of things - 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
    • such a scheme of things as shall at once take in time and eternity - 1706, Francis Atterbury, A Sermon Preach'd in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul; at the Funeral of My. Tho. Bennett:
    • arguments […] sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy - 1754, Jonathan Edwards, The Freedom of the Will:
  6. A chart or diagram of a system or object.
    • April 29, 1694, Robert South, A Sermon Preached at Westminster Abbey to draw an exact scheme of Constantinople, or a map of France

    Synonyms: plot schematic chart design diagram map graph graphic plan scheme

  7. A mathematical structure that generalizes the notion of an algebraic variety in several ways, such as taking account of multiplicities and allowing "varieties" defined over any commutative ring. Formally, a locally ringed space that admits a covering by open sets, each of which is isomorphic to an affine scheme (i.e. the spectrum of some commutative ring).
  8. A council housing estate.
    • It was all too dear. They all just put their prices up because it was out in the scheme. - 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 101:
    • “You can’t really say to the kids in the schemes [Scottish council estates]^([sic]): don’t do drugs, they’ll wreck your life, you’ll never get a job or a house or buy nice things.” - 2023 July 2, David Barnett, quoting...

    Synonyms: estate project

  9. Part of a uniform resource identifier indicating the protocol or other purpose, such as http: or news:.
  10. A portfolio of pension plans with related benefits comprising multiple independent members.

Origin

From late Middle English scheame, from Medieval Latin schēma (“figure, form”), from Ancient Greek σχῆμα (skhêma, “form, shape”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “to hold”). Doublet of schema. Compare sketch.

Forms

schemes

Hyponyms

axiom scheme classification scheme collective investment scheme colour scheme grand scheme group scheme Horner's scheme lift scheme Mississippi Scheme pilot scheme Ponzi scheme pyramid scheme rhyme scheme

Derived

grand scheme of things schematization scheme arch scheme of studies scheme of things schemer schemester scheme theory schemie

Verb

  1. To plot, or contrive a plan; to maneuver.
    • Laura snatches coins from inside a truck to make a telephone call, scrounges shoes and clothes for them at a municipal beach, schemes to get a room key so she and Howie can sleep overnight in the Starlight Motel, steals...
    • The openly ridiculous plot has The Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) scheming to win the Pirate Of The Year competition, even though he’s a terrible pirate, far outclassed by rivals voiced by Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek. -...
  2. To plan; to contrive; to maneuver.
    • He schemed a plot. He made use of the hotel's stationery to write a letter. - 1908, Bohemian Magazine, volume 15, page 381:

Forms

schemes scheming schemed

Synonyms

hatch intrigue