lot
one of a set of objects, such as straws or pebbles, drawn or thrown from a container to decide a question or choice by chance.
the casting or drawing of such objects as a method of deciding something: They would have to choose a winner by lot.
the decision or choice made by drawing or throwing a set of objects such as straws or pebbles.
allotted share or portion: With her lot of the inheritance, she built a business.
the portion in life assigned by fate or Providence; one's fate, fortune, or destiny: Her lot had not been a happy one.
a distinct portion or piece of land: a building lot.
a piece of land forming a part of a district, city, or other community.
South Midland and Southern U.S. a farmyard or barnyard.
a piece of land having the use specified by the attributive noun or adjective: a parking lot; a used-car lot.
Movies. a motion-picture studio and its surrounding property.
a distinct portion or parcel of anything, as of merchandise: The furniture was to be auctioned off in 20 lots.
a number of things or persons collectively: There's one more, and that's the lot.
kind of person; sort: He's a bad lot.
Often lots . a great many or a great deal: a lot of books;lots of money.
Chiefly British. a tax or duty.
to divide or distribute by lot (sometimes followed by out): to lot furniture for sale; to lot out apples by the basketful.
to assign to a person as their lot; allot.
to divide into lots, as land.
Obsolete. to cast or draw lots for.
to draw lots.
Often lots . a great deal; greatly: Thanks a lot for the ride.I care lots about my family.
Idioms about lot
cast (in) one's lot with, to ally oneself with; share the life and fortunes of: She had cast her lot with the bohemian crowd.
draw / cast lots, to settle a question by the use of lots: They drew lots to see who would go first.
Origin of lot
1Other words for lot
Other words from lot
- lotter, noun
- in·ter·lot, verb (used with object) in·ter·lot·ted, in·ter·lot·ting.
- sublot, noun
- un·lot·ted, adjective
Other definitions for Lot (2 of 4)
the nephew of Abraham. His wife was changed into a pillar of salt for looking back during their flight from Sodom. Genesis 13:1–12, 19.
Other definitions for Lot (3 of 4)
a river in S France, flowing W to the Garonne. 300 miles (480 km) long.
a department in S France. 2,018 sq. mi. (5,225 sq. km). Capital: Cahors.
Other definitions for lot. (4 of 4)
(in prescriptions) a lotion.
Origin of lot.
4Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use lot in a sentence
I think a lot of it has to do with the attitude and the energy behind it and the honesty.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical | Stereo Williams | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThere was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
If anything the work the two cops and the maintenance guy were doing deserves more respect and probably helped a lot more people.
A lot of people ring in the New Year with vows to lose weight and exercise.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd extortion makes a lot more sense before a story hits the news wire, not after.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers | Stereo Williams | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
If the "Y" Beach lot press their advantage they may cut off the enemy troops on the toe of the Peninsula.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonIn the old world, poverty seemed, and poverty was, the natural and inevitable lot of the greater portion of mankind.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockSeen thus poverty became rather a blessing than a curse, or at least a dispensation prescribing the proper lot of man.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockThen the enemy's howitzers and field guns had it all their own way, forcing attack to yield a lot of ground.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonI have seen a lot of Bolshevik propaganda and it is not very convincing stuff.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
British Dictionary definitions for lot (1 of 3)
/ (lɒt) /
(functioning as singular or plural preceded by a) a great number or quantity: a lot to do; a lot of people; a lot of trouble
a collection of objects, items, or people: a nice lot of youngsters
portion in life; destiny; fortune: it falls to my lot to be poor
any object, such as a straw or slip of paper, drawn from others at random to make a selection or choice (esp in the phrase draw or cast lots)
the use of lots in making a selection or choice (esp in the phrase by lot)
an assigned or apportioned share
an item or set of items for sale in an auction
mainly US and Canadian an area of land: a parking lot
US and Canadian a piece of land with fixed boundaries
mainly US and Canadian a film studio and the site on which it is located
a bad lot an unpleasant or disreputable person
cast in one's lot with or throw in one's lot with to join with voluntarily and share the fortunes of
the lot the entire amount or number
to a considerable extent, degree, or amount; very much: to delay a lot
a great deal of the time or often: to sing madrigals a lot
to draw lots for (something)
(tr) to divide (land, etc) into lots
(tr) another word for allot
Origin of lot
1- See also lots
British Dictionary definitions for Lot (2 of 3)
/ (lɒt) /
a department of S central France, in Midi-Pyrénées region. Capital: Cahors. Pop: 164 413 (2003 est). Area: 5226 sq km (2038 sq miles)
a river in S France, rising in the Cévennes and flowing west into the Garonne River. Length: about 483 km (300 miles)
British Dictionary definitions for Lot (3 of 3)
/ (lɒt) /
Old Testament Abraham's nephew: he escaped the destruction of Sodom, but his wife was changed into a pillar of salt for looking back as they fled (Genesis 19)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with lot
see a lot; carry (a lot of) weight; cast one's lot with; fat chance (lot); have (a lot) going for one; have a lot on one's plate; leave a lot to be desired; quite a bit (lot); think a lot of.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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