n.
- a systematic plan or arrangement for attaining some particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.
▸a particular ordered system or arrangement:
a classical rhyme scheme.
- a secret or underhand plan; a plot.
v.
- form a scheme, especially a devious one or with intent to do something wrong.
- arrange according to a colour scheme.
Derivative
- schemer n.
- scheming adj. & n.
- schemingly adv.
Etymology
C16 (denoting a figure of speech, later ‘diagram of the position of celestial objects’): from L. schema, from Gk (see schema).