- 1[countable, uncountable] the series of events that form the story of a novel, play, movie, etc. a conventional plot about love and marriage The book is well organized in terms of plot. Topic CollocationsLiteraturebeing a writer
- write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography
- become a writer/novelist/playwright
- find/have a publisher/an agent
- have a new book out
- edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript
- dedicate a book/poem to…
- construct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrative
- advance/drive the plot
- introduce/present the protagonist/a character
- describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villain
- create an exciting/a tense atmosphere
- build/heighten the suspense/tension
- evoke/capture the pathos of the situation
- convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…
- engage the reader
- seize/capture/grip the (reader's) imagination
- arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)
- lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm
- use/employ language/imagery/humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a device
- use/adopt/develop a style/technique
- be rich in/be full of symbolism
- evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…
- create/achieve an effect
- maintain/lighten the tone
- introduce/develop an idea/a theme
- inspire a novel/a poet/somebody's work/somebody's imagination
- read an author/somebody's work/fiction/poetry/a text/an article/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage
- review an article/a book/a novel/somebody's work
- give something/get/have/receive a good/bad review
- be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece
- quote a phrase/a line/a stanza/a passage/an author
- provoke/spark discussion/criticism
- study/interpret/understand a text/passage
- translate somebody's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem
- 2[countable] plot (to do something) a secret plan made by a group of people to do something wrong or illegal synonym conspiracy a murder plot The rebels hatched a plot to overthrow the government. Police uncovered a plot against the president.
- 3[countable] a small piece of land that is used or intended for a special purpose She bought a small plot of land to build a house on. a vegetable plot Thesaurusland
- lot
- ground
- space
- plot
- land an area of ground, especially one that is used for a particular purpose:agricultural land
- lot a piece of land that is used or intended for a particular purpose:building lots a parking lot
- ground (often used in compounds) an area of land that is used for a particular purpose:The kids were playing on a playground near the school. the site of an ancient burial ground
- Land is used for large areas of open land in the country, especially when it is used for farming. A lot is often a smaller piece of land in a town or city, especially one intended for building or parking on. Ground is any area of open land; a ground is an area of land designed or used for a particular purpose or activity.
- space a large area of land that has no buildings on it:The city has plenty of open space. the wide open spaces of the Canadian prairies
- plot a small piece of land used or intended for a particular purpose:She bought a small plot of land to build a house. a vegetable plot
- Either a lot or a plot can be used for building on. Only a plot can also be used for growing vegetables or burying people.
- (an) open land/ground/space
- (a/an) empty/vacant land/lot/ground/plot
Idioms
used to say that a situation is becoming more complicated and difficult to understand
Check pronunciation: plot