scheme
♦♦ scheme /sk'iːm/ (schemes scheming schemed)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N to-inf, n N
A scheme is a plan or arrangement involving many people which is made by a government or other organization. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use program)
...schemes to help combat unemployment.
...a private pension scheme...
2 [N-COUNT] oft N to-inf, N for -ing
A scheme is someone's plan for achieving something.
...a quick money-making scheme to get us through the summer...
3 [VERB] oft cont, V, V to-inf, V against n, V-ing
If you say that people are scheming, you mean that they are making secret plans in order to gain something for themselves.
Everyone's always scheming and plotting...
The bride's family were scheming to prevent a wedding...
They claimed that their opponents were scheming against them...
You're a scheming little devil, aren't you?
● scheming [N-UNCOUNT]
...their favourite pastimes of scheming and gossiping.
4
see also colour scheme, pension scheme
5 [PHRASE]
When people talk about the scheme of things or the grand scheme of things , they are referring to the way that everything in the world seems to be organized.
We realize that we are infinitely small within the scheme of things.col|our scheme (colour schemes)
in AM, use color scheme
[N-COUNT]
In a room or house, the colour scheme is the way in which colours have been used to decorate it.
...a stylish colour scheme of olive green and mustard.pen|sion scheme (pension schemes)
[N-COUNT]
A pension scheme is the same as a pension plan. (mainly BRIT BUSINESS)
His company has the best pension scheme in the industry.
1 [N-COUNT] oft N to-inf, n N
A scheme is a plan or arrangement involving many people which is made by a government or other organization. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use program)
...schemes to help combat unemployment.
...a private pension scheme...
2 [N-COUNT] oft N to-inf, N for -ing
A scheme is someone's plan for achieving something.
...a quick money-making scheme to get us through the summer...
3 [VERB] oft cont, V, V to-inf, V against n, V-ing
If you say that people are scheming, you mean that they are making secret plans in order to gain something for themselves.
Everyone's always scheming and plotting...
The bride's family were scheming to prevent a wedding...
They claimed that their opponents were scheming against them...
You're a scheming little devil, aren't you?
● scheming [N-UNCOUNT]
...their favourite pastimes of scheming and gossiping.
4
see also colour scheme, pension scheme
5 [PHRASE]
When people talk about the scheme of things or the grand scheme of things , they are referring to the way that everything in the world seems to be organized.
We realize that we are infinitely small within the scheme of things.col|our scheme (colour schemes)
in AM, use color scheme
[N-COUNT]
In a room or house, the colour scheme is the way in which colours have been used to decorate it.
...a stylish colour scheme of olive green and mustard.pen|sion scheme (pension schemes)
[N-COUNT]
A pension scheme is the same as a pension plan. (mainly BRIT BUSINESS)
His company has the best pension scheme in the industry.