Scheme meaning of the word

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	scheme — an elaborate and systematic plan of action strategy plan of action — a plan for actively doing something dodge, stratagem, contrivance — an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; «his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track» counterterrorism — a strategy intended to prevent or counter terrorism game plan — (sports) a plan for achieving an objective in some sport game plan — (figurative) a carefully thought out strategy for achieving an objective in war or politics or business or personal affairs; «newscasters speculated about the President’s game plan for an invasion» house of cards, bubble — a speculative scheme that depends on unstable factors that the planner cannot control; «his proposal was nothing but a house of cards»; «a real estate bubble» playbook — a scheme or set of strategies for conducting a business campaign or a political campaign; «they borrowed a page from the playbook of the opposition» plot, secret plan, game — a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal); «they concocted a plot to discredit the governor»; «I saw through his little game from the start» pyramid scheme — a fraudulent scheme in which people are recruited to make payments to the person who recruited them while expecting to receive payments from the persons they recruit; when the number of new recruits fails to sustain the hierarchical payment structure the scheme collapses with most of the participants losing the money they put in waiting game — a strategy of delay wheeze — (Briticism) a clever or amusing scheme or trick; «a clever wheeze probably succeeded in neutralizing the German espionage threat» incentive program, incentive scheme — a formal scheme for inducing someone (as employees) to do something
	2.	scheme — a statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery dodging, dodge falsehood, untruth, falsity — a false statement
	3.	scheme — a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole; «a vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going» system group, grouping — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit language system — a system of linguistic units or elements used in a particular language judicatory, judicial system, judiciary, judicature — the system of law courts that administer justice and constitute the judicial branch of government economic system, economy — the system of production and distribution and consumption ecosystem — a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment hierarchy — a series of ordered groupings of people or things within a system; «put honesty first in her hierarchy of values» social organisation, social organization, social structure, social system, structure — the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships; «the social organization of England and America is very different»; «sociologists have studied the changing structure of the family» dragnet — a system of coordinated measures for apprehending (criminals or other individuals); «caught in the police dragnet» machinery — a system of means and activities whereby a social institution functions; «the complex machinery of negotiation»; «the machinery of command labored and brought forth an order» network, web — an interconnected system of things or people; «he owned a network of shops»; «retirement meant dropping out of a whole network of people who had been part of my life»; «tangled in a web of cloth» nonlinear system — a system whose performance cannot be described by equations of the first degree subsystem — a system that is part of some larger system organism — a system considered analogous in structure or function to a living body; «the social organism» syntax — a systematic orderly arrangement body — a collection of particulars considered as a system; «a body of law»; «a body of doctrine»; «a body of precedents» shebang — an entire system; used in the phrase `the whole shebang’ solar system — the sun with the celestial bodies that revolve around it in its gravitational field water system — a river and all of its tributaries root system, rootage — a developed system of roots
	4.	scheme — an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world schema internal representation, mental representation, representation — a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image
	5.	scheme — a schematic or preliminary plan schema, outline plan, program, programme — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished; «they drew up a six-step plan»; «they discussed plans for a new bond issue»
Verb	1.	scheme — form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner connive, intrigue plot — plan secretly, usually something illegal; «They plotted the overthrow of the government»
	2.	scheme — devise a system or form a scheme for plan — make plans for something; «He is planning a trip with his family»

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

scheme

noun

1. plan, programme, strategy, system, design, project, theory, proposal, device, tactics, course of action, contrivance a private pension scheme

2. plot, dodge, ploy, ruse, game (informal), shift, intrigue, conspiracy, manoeuvre, machinations, subterfuge, stratagem a quick money-making scheme

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

scheme

noun

1. A method for making, doing, or accomplishing something:

2. A secret plan to achieve an evil or illegal end:

verb

1. To work out a secret plan to achieve an evil or illegal end:

2. To form a strategy for:

blueprint, cast, chart, conceive, contrive, design, devise, formulate, frame, lay, plan, project, strategize, work out.

Idiom: lay plans.

The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

… and she said: * scheme and plot, plot and scheme* ❋ Jaxraven (2001)

Very elaborately he devised a funding scheme which, taken in connection with his system of issues, was in effect what in these days would be called an «_interconvertibility scheme_» By various degrees of persuasion or force, — the guillotine looming up in the background, — holders of _assignats_ were urged to convert them into evidence of national debt, bearing interest at five per cent, with the understanding that if more paper were afterward needed more would be issued. ❋ Andrew Dickson White (1875)

Pursued to the end, the Ervin scheme could produce a national polity which would be almost as overbalanced in the direction of congressional supremacy as the Nixon scheme is in the direction of presidential supremacy. ❋ Unknown (1973)

Yet, if taken literally, the Ervin scheme is a scheme of presidential subordination. ❋ Unknown (1973)

Anyway, that lurid phase of Toronto history — and my aborted career as Rosie Lovelace — came to mind upon learning this past week about an apparent back-door you should forgive the expression scheme to turn the city once again into North America’s body rub capital. ❋ Rosie DiManno (2011)

Garcia’s defense attorney, John Bishop of Cedar Rapids, said in court records the title scheme was just one thread of a larger network that allowed workers and residents in the meatpacking town to earn a living and remain in the U.S. ❋ Unknown (2010)

In response to the ruling, Congress added a short provision to the federal fraud statute that said, «For the purposes of this chapter, the term scheme or artifice to defraud includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.» ❋ Unknown (2009)

If his scheme is adopted, student numbers are likely to fall anyway, though the prospects for a vocational degree in, say, surf science (with «frequent practical beach sessions» – check out the University of Plymouth) may be better, with Browne’s market in charge, than they are for low-priority arts courses featuring Venetian art history. ❋ Catherine Bennett (2010)

One of the big drawbacks to any voucher scheme is the adverse selection problem. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Charles Mok elaborated the argument and pointed out that the scheme is an excuse to discipline obedient citizenry: ❋ Unknown (2009)

One of the richest-coloured spaces in the scheme is the final room: the breakout room, in dark chocolate brown. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Your scheme is an expansion of the welfare state largely at the expense of the middle classes. ❋ Unknown (2010)

But people have left comments on both postings suggesting the scheme is a hoax or a fantasy. ❋ Unknown (2008)

And I know some of you are quick to point out that this new colour scheme is a variation of my old blogger template. ❋ Unknown (2008)

What bothers me most about this scheme is the potential for children being reluctant and/or teased for reading a book labeled younger than they are «supposed» to be reading. ❋ Roger Sutton (2007)

Given that this scheme is all about increasing the speed of convictions and the number of convictions saving money along the way i find it quite ironic that its had the opposite effect. ❋ Inspector Gadget (2007)

One drawback to this scheme is the possible flooding of areas of archaeological significance, though the major Mayan sites already identified in the region are believed to lie well above any future water level. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Ex1:
Son, why you gotta scheme like that? that means why are you acting shady
Ex2:
Person 1: What are you [scheming]?
Me: [How to take over the world]
Person 1: [I’m down]…now all we need is some pot and booze ❋ Thundercat3307 (2005)

Johnny: Did you see Bob scheme on those [high schoolers] at the bar last night?
[Rob]: Yeah, what a fucking [scumbag]. ❋ James P Higgins, SJ (2008)

«And the girls that been [scheming], gonna [get creamed] when I» — The [Gravediggaz] ❋ AC (2004)

([define] ([factorial] n) ([cond] ((= n 0) 1) (else (* n (factorial (- n 1)))))) ❋ Luca Kaceem Butler Masters (2004)

a person [claiming] there [this and that] when in reality there [just a little] kid trying to scheme their actions ❋ Carlton Irving (2009)

[yeah] she [lives] in a scheme ❋ Bob The Wonder Jobby (2003)

i) person 1: ayo wat dey doin ova der!? person 2: [man dem] girls be scheemin [all day er day]
ii) person 1: uh…wat dey doin here? person 2: [oh nah] das jus ma scheme ❋ Lil Luh (2006)

I [schemed] the seccies to let us in
I’m going to go scheme [buds]
I’m [scheming] for pills! ❋ Fuzzavelli (2006)

[y/n]: i totally like him!!!
y/f: then you should scheme!!!!!!!!
y/n: you’re so right! i’m gonna [snapchat] him [right now]! ❋ SLangKween (2016)

oh, look [yonder] dear there be a scheme. Why what [fabulous] [whites] he is clothed in. ❋ Bob The Wonder Jobby (2003)

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Medieval Latin schēma (“figure, form”), from Ancient Greek σχῆμα (skhêma, “form, shape”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “I hold”). Doublet of schema. Compare sketch.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /skiːm/
• Rhymes: -iːm

Noun[edit]

scheme (plural schemes)

1. (rhetoric, obsolete) An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words. [16th–17th c.]
2. (astrology) A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event. [from 17th c.]
3. A systematic plan of future action. [from 18th c.]
   • c. 1713, Jonathan Swift, Thoughts on Various Subjects

     The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.

   • 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist‎^[1], volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):

     A “moving platform” scheme […] is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays. This set-up solves several problems […].

4. A plot or secret, devious plan.
5. An orderly combination of related parts.
   • 1706, Francis Atterbury, A Sermon Preach’d in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul; at the Funeral of My. Tho. Bennett

     such a scheme of things as shall at once take in time and eternity

   • 1754, Jonathan Edwards, The Freedom of the Will

     arguments […] sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy
6. A chart or diagram of a system or object.
   • April 29, 1694, Robert South, A Sermon Preached at Westminster Abbey

     to draw an exact scheme of Constantinople, or a map of France

7. (mathematics) A mathematical structure that enlarges the notion of algebraic variety in several ways, such as taking account of multiplicities and allowing «varieties» defined over any commutative ring (e.g. Fermat curves over the integers).
8. (UK, chiefly Scotland, colloquial) A council housing estate. [from 20th c.]
   • 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin 2009, p. 101:

     It was all too dear. They all just put their prices up because it was out in the scheme.

   • 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:

     a blue case, from which was drawn a scheme of nativity

9. (Internet) Part of a uniform resource identifier indicating the protocol or other purpose, such as http: or news:.
10. (UK, pensions) A portfolio of pension plans with related benefits comprising multiple independent members.

Usage notes[edit]

In the US, generally has devious connotations, while in the UK, frequently used as a neutral term for projects: “The road is closed due to a pavement-widening scheme.”

Synonyms[edit]

• (a systematic plan of future action): blueprint

Derived terms[edit]

• colour scheme
• pilot scheme
• schematization

Descendants[edit]

• → Irish: scéim
• → Malay: skim

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

scheme (third-person singular simple present schemes, present participle scheming, simple past and past participle schemed)

1. (intransitive) To plot, or contrive a plan.

   • 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits”, in The Onion AV Club‎^[2]:

     The openly ridiculous plot has The Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) scheming to win the Pirate Of The Year competition, even though he’s a terrible pirate, far outclassed by rivals voiced by Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek.

2. (transitive) To plan; to contrive.
   • 1908, Bohemian Magazine (volume 15, page 381)

     He schemed a plot. He made use of the hotel’s stationery to write a letter.

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

• “scheme, n.¹”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2022.
• Silva Rhetoricae

Anagrams[edit]

• Meches

Hunsrik[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃeːmə/

Verb[edit]

scheme

1. (reflexive) to be ashamed

   Schemst-du dich net?

   Aren’t you ashamed?

Further reading[edit]

• Online Hunsrik Dictionary

Middle Low German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Saxon skimo (“shadow”). Originally masculine.

Pronunciation[edit]

• Stem vowel: ē¹
  • (originally) IPA^(key): /skɪəmə/

Noun[edit]

scheme m or f

1. A shadow, a shade; a darkness created by an object obstructing light
2. A shadow, a shade; something which is barely perceptible or not physical

   …lose se van der walt der dusternisse unde van deme scheme des dodes. (» …free them from the power of darkness and the shadow of death.» )

3. A shimmer; a soft or weak occurrence of light
4. twilight; the lighting conditions at dusk and dawn
5. A face mask
6. aureola

Alternative forms[edit]

• sceme