Meaning & use
plotter
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnicalcomputing
A machine, connected to a computer, that draws large technical drawings or graphs on paper.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a plotter' or 'plotters'. It is a device, not a person.
Patterns
- a plotter prints something
- use a plotter
The engineering office uses a large plotter to print maps and building plans.
Our old plotter takes twenty minutes to draw one poster-sized chart.
She saved the file and sent it to the plotter in the next room.
nouncountabledisapproving
A person who secretly makes a plan to do something harmful or illegal.
Grammar: Countable and usually negative: 'the plotters' are the people in a plot.
Patterns
- a plotter against someone
- the plotters behind something
The police arrested three plotters who planned to attack the airport.
He was described as the main plotter behind the failed rebellion.
nouncountabletechnical
A person who marks points on a map or graph, or who follows a route carefully.
Grammar: Countable; this sense is less common and often appears in sailing or navigation.
Patterns
- a plotter on a ship
The navigator worked as a plotter, marking each position on the chart.
On the bridge, the plotter checked the ship's course every hour.
Word forms
| plural | plotters |
|---|
Common combinations
- a large plotter
- The design studio bought a large plotter for its posters.
- send something to the plotter
- Please send the final drawing to the plotter.
- the main plotter
- The main plotter was sentenced to five years in prison.
- a plotter against the government
- He was known as a plotter against the government.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conspirator
- More formal and more serious than 'plotter'; it suggests a secret agreement among several people.
- schemer
- Similar to the person sense, but it can describe someone who makes clever, selfish plans rather than a violent plot.
Word family
Commonly confused: plotter or platter? plotter or plot?
plotter vs platter
A 'platter' is a large flat plate for serving food; a 'plotter' is a machine or a scheming person.
plotter vs plot
'Plot' is the plan or the story events; 'plotter' is the machine or the person.
Practice
The engineers used a ______ to print the detailed map on a large sheet of paper.
Choose one answer.
A 'plotter' is the machine that draws large technical drawings. 'Platter' is a plate, 'plot' is the plan or story, and 'plodder' means a slow worker, so none of them fits the printing machine.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plotter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.