scheme

[skeem]

noun

1. a plan, design, or program of action to be followed; project.

2. an underhand plot; intrigue.

   Synonyms: conspiracy, cabal, stratagem

3. a visionary or impractical project.

4. a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc..

   a scheme of philosophy.

5. any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement.

   Synonyms: schema, pattern

6. a plan, program, or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business.

   The company's pension scheme is very successful.

7. an analytical or tabular statement.

8. a diagram, map, or the like.

9. an astrological diagram of the heavens.

verb (used with object)

schemed, scheming 

1. to devise as a scheme; conspire; plot; contrive.

verb (used without object)

schemed, scheming 

1. to lay schemes; devise plans; plot.

scheme

/ skiːm /

noun

1. a systematic plan for a course of action

2. a systematic arrangement of correlated parts; system

3. a secret plot

4. a visionary or unrealizable project

5. a chart, diagram, or outline

6. an astrological diagram giving the aspects of celestial bodies at a particular time

7. a plan formally adopted by a commercial enterprise or governmental body, as for pensions, etc

8. an area of housing that is laid out esp by a local authority; estate

verb

1. (tr) to devise a system for

2. to form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner

Other Word Forms

• schemeless adjective
• schemer noun
• outscheme verb (used with object)
• subscheme noun
• underscheme noun
• unschemed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scheme¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Medieval Latin schēma (stem schēmat- ), from Greek schêma “form, figure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scheme¹

C16: from Latin schema, from Greek skhēma form

Idioms and Phrases

see best-laid plans (schemes).

Synonym Study

See plan. See plot.

Related Words

• arrangement 
• blueprint 
• design 
• device 
• game plan 
• pattern 
• plan 
• program 
• project 
• proposal 
• strategy 
• system 
• theory