plotted

Everyday

1. (maths, maps) Marked points on a graph, grid or map: "We plotted the points." tree →
2. Secretly planned something, usually bad: "They plotted to steal the crown." tree →
3. Planned the story of a book or film: "a well-plotted mystery". tree →
4. (plotted plant) Planted in a pot (rare; usually "potted"). tree →

In the lessons

In maths, you plot coordinates like (2, 3) on a grid and join them to make a line graph; in science you plot results. In history, Guy Fawkes and others plotted to blow up Parliament in 1605 (the Gunpowder Plot). In English lessons, a well-plotted story has events that fit together.

Examples

• We plotted the points (1, 2) and (3, 4) on the grid. tree →
• The temperatures were plotted on a line graph. tree →
• The pirates plotted to take the ship. tree →
• Guy Fawkes plotted to blow up Parliament. tree →
• The captain plotted a course on the map. tree →
• The mystery is cleverly plotted. tree →
• She plotted her revenge on her brother for weeks. tree →
• She now plotted continually how she might destroy her good fortune. tree →

Note

Double t: plot, plotted, plotting. In maths, when plotting (x, y), go across first (x), then up (y): "along the corridor, then up the stairs".