1.plot的基本意思是“密谋”,指所采用极其危险的手段进行某一行动,参加策划的人可多可少,范围可大可小,但暗示有某人或某一群人将成为此行动的受害者,只用于贬义。此时可接由名词、代词、动词不定式、带疑问词的不定式或从句作宾语。
2.plot也可表示为“把…分成小块”,引申可表示“绘制”,指根据要求仔细绘制的各部分区分明显、比例严格的图〔线〕,接名词或代词作宾语。
3.plot的过去式和过去分词均为plotted。

plot against(v.+prep.)
密谋反对 to make secret plans to oppose sb
▲plot against sb
The traitors plotted against the government.那些叛徒密谋反对政府。
They were plotting with him against the king.他们和他一起策划反对国王。


plot out(v.+adv.)
把…划成小块 divide into plots
▲plot sth⇔out
They plotted out the farm.他们把农场划成若干小块。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
He plotted the ruin of his enemy.他阴谋倾覆他的敌人。
He plotted a temperature curve.他绘制了一条温度曲线。
He plotted the position Mary should go.他给玛丽标出她应去的地方。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
The plan to overthrow the present government was carefully plotted.推翻现政府的计划经过了周密的策划。
▲S+～+to-v
They plotted to kill the politician.他们图谋要杀掉那位政治家。
Enemy agents plotted to blow up the plant.敌特分子密谋炸毁那座工厂。
They were accused of plotting to overthrow the government.他们被指控密谋推翻政府。
▲S+～+wh-to-v
They were plotting how to obtain the necessary information.他们正在策划如何获取必要的情报。
The thieves plotted how to steal the golden watch from the lady.小偷们密谋如何从那位女士身上偷走那块金表。
▲S+～+wh-clause
They were plotting how they would assassinate the president.他们正秘密策划将如何暗杀总统。
He was plotting how he would free the prisoner.他正秘密策划营救那个囚犯。

plot, conspire
这组词都含有“密谋”的意思。其区别在于:plot可指一人或多人密谋; 而conspire只指多人共同密谋。
plot, sketch
这组词都含有“绘制”的意思。其区别在于:plot多指根据要求仔细地“绘”,如在坐标系上标出坐标,在地图上标出某一个地点等; 而sketch虽有“绘”的意思,但它强调的是“速写”“速描”“画草图”等。

［同义词］ n.  design, plan
［词源］＜中古英语＜古英语plot(小块土地)

This is a novel with a complicated plot.这本小说情节复杂。
The police exposed a criminal plot to assassinate the president.警察破了一个行刺总统的阴谋。
His land is split up into several widely scattered plots.他的土地被分割成相当分散的几小块。