scheme (schemes plural & 3rd person present) (scheming present participle) (schemed past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A scheme is a plan or arrangement involving many people which is made by a government or other organization.
(mainly BRIT) oft N to-inf, n N
...schemes to help combat unemployment., ...a private pension scheme...
in AM, use program
2 n-count A scheme is someone's plan for achieving something.
oft N to-inf, N for -ing
...a quick money-making scheme to get us through the summer...
3 verb If you say that people are scheming, you mean that they are making secret plans in order to gain something for themselves.
oft cont (disapproval)
Everyone's always scheming and plotting... V
The bride's family were scheming to prevent a wedding... V to-inf
They claimed that their opponents were scheming against them... V against n
You're a scheming little devil, aren't you? V-ing
♦
scheming n-uncount
...their favourite pastimes of scheming and gossiping.
4
→
colour scheme
→
pension scheme
5 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.
♦
the scheme of things the grand scheme of things phrase
We realize that we are infinitely small within the scheme of things.