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RELATED WORDS

oodles, legion, wad, scads, plenty, slew, slathers, tons, gobs, realty, loads, galore, many

Idioms

    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

before 950; 1805–15 for def 14; Middle English; Old English hlot portion, choice, decision; cognate with Dutch lot, Old Norse hlutr; akin to Old English hlīet, German Los, Old Norse hlaut, Gothic hlauts lot
Related formslot·ter, nounin·ter·lot, verb (used with object) in·ter·lot·ted, in·ter·lot·ting.sub·lot, nounun·lot·ted, adjective

Synonyms for lot

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lot ON THESAURUS.COM
4. part, quota. 7. plot, parcel. 12. group, crowd, gang.

Lot

1
[lot]

noun

the nephew of Abraham. His wife was changed into a pillar of salt for looking back during their flight from Sodom. Gen. 13:1–12, 19.

Lot

2
[lawt]

noun

a river in S France, flowing W to the Garonne. 300 miles (480 km) long.
a department in S France. 2018 sq. mi. (5225 sq. km). Capital: Cahors.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lots

Contemporary Examples of lots

Historical Examples of lots

  • I'd rather trust your judgment now than lots of older men down there.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • There will be lots of work for me before this night is over.

    Ballads of a Bohemian

    Robert W. Service

  • "Lots of those fellows about in my day," said the Mound-Builder.

    The Trail Book

    Mary Austin

  • I know what I am saying for I have come here lots and lots of times just to listen.

  • But some on 'em did have lots of work on their hands, I couldn't dispute it.

    Samantha Among the Brethren, Part 5.

    Josiah Allen's Wife (Marietta Holley)

British Dictionary definitions for lots

lots

pl n

(often foll by of) great numbers or quantitieslots of people; to eat lots

adverb

a great deal
(intensifier)the journey is lots quicker by train

lot

pronoun

(functioning as singular or plural preceded by a) a great number or quantitya lot to do; a lot of people; a lot of trouble

noun

a collection of objects, items, or peoplea nice lot of youngsters
portion in life; destiny; fortuneit 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 landa 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

adverb (preceded by a) informal

to a considerable extent, degree, or amount; very muchto delay a lot
a great deal of the time or oftento sing madrigals a lot

verb lots, lotting or lotted

to draw lots for (something)
(tr) to divide (land, etc) into lots
(tr) another word for allot
See also lots

Word Origin for lot

Old English hlot; related to Old High German lug portion of land, Old Norse hlutr lot, share

Lot

1

noun

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)

Lot

2

noun

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
Word Origin and History for lots

lot

n.

Old English hlot "object (anything from dice to straw, but often a chip of wood with a name inscribed on it) used to determine someone's share," also "what falls to a person by lot," from Proto-Germanic *khlutom (cf. Old Norse hlutr "lot, share," Old Frisian hlot "lot," Old Saxon hlot, Middle Dutch, Dutch lot, Old High German hluz "share of land," German Los; Old English hleotan "to cast lots, to foretell"), of unknown origin. The object was placed with others in a receptacle, which was shaken, the winner being the one that fell out first. Hence, to cast lots. In some cases the lots were drawn by hand. The word was adopted from Germanic into the Romanic languages (cf. lottery, lotto). Meaning "choice resulting from the casting of lots" first attested c.1200.

Sense of "plot of land" is first recorded 1630s (distribution of the best property in new settlements often determined by casting lots), that of "group, collection" is 1725, from notion of auction lots. The generalized sense of "great many" is first attested in 1812. To cast (one's) lot with another is to agree to share winnings.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with lots

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.