scheme

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A systematic plan of action: "Did you ever carry out your scheme of writing a series of sonnets embodying all the great epochs of art?” ( Edith Wharton).
2. n. A secret or devious plan; a plot. See Synonyms at plan.
3. n. An orderly combination of related parts: an irrigation scheme with dams, reservoirs, and channels.
4. n. A chart, diagram, or outline of a system or object.
5. v. To plot: scheming their revenge.
6. v. To contrive a plan or scheme for.
7. v. To make plans, especially secret or devious ones.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A connected and orderly arrangement, as of related precepts or coördinate theories; a regularly formulated plan; system.
2. n. A linear representation showing the relative position, form, etc., of the parts or elements of a thing or system; a diagram; a sketch or outline.
3. n. In astrology, a representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies; an astrological figure of the heavens.
4. n. A statement or plan in tabular form; an official and formal plan: as, a scheme of division (see phrase below); a scheme of postal distribution or of mail service.
5. n. A plan to be executed; a project or design; purpose.
6. n. A specific organization for the attainment of some distinct object: as, the seven schemes of the Church of Scotland (for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, the conversion of the Jews, home missions, etc.; these are under the charge of a joint committee).
7. n. A figure of speech.
8. n. = Syn.5. Design, Project, etc. See plan.
9. To plan; contrive; plot; project; design.
10. To form plans; contrive; plan; plot.
11. n. In printing, the written or printed summary of the proper quantity of types for each character: in Great Britain a ‘scheme’ of type is called a ‘bill’ of type.

Wiktionary

1. n. A systematic plan of future action.
2. n. A plot or secret, devious plan.
3. n. An orderly combination of related parts.
4. n. A chart or diagram of a system or object.
5. n. A type of topological space.
6. n. A council housing estate.
7. n. An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
8. v. To plot, or contrive a plan.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system.
2. n. A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project.
3. n. Any lineal or mathematical diagram; an outline.
4. n. A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
5. v. To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot.
6. v. To form a scheme or schemes.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
2. n. an elaborate and systematic plan of action
3. n. a schematic or preliminary plan
4. n. a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole
5. n. a statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery
6. n. an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world
7. v. devise a system or form a scheme for