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# scheme

«scheme» in Mova's school dictionary: **An official plan or system for doing something: a…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a scheme, schemes); verb (scheme, schemes, schemed, scheming)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (UK, Australia, NZ) An official plan or system for doing something: a recycling scheme, a reading scheme at school. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#m1)

2) A clever, often secret or dishonest plan: a scheme to steal the jewels. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#m2)

3) (verb) To make secret plans, often to trick people. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#m3)

4) A «colour scheme» is a set of colours chosen to go together. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#m4)

5) (Scotland) A housing estate. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

In UK and Australian school life: «the school reading scheme», «a savings scheme», «a cycle-to-school scheme». In US English «scheme» usually sounds sneaky. In stories villains scheme and plot; in safety lessons «a get-rich-quick scheme» or online scheme is a scam — be careful. Phrases: «a money-making scheme», «get-rich-quick scheme», «colour scheme», «in the grand scheme of things».

### examples

- Our school has a new recycling scheme. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x1)
- The villain had a scheme to steal the crown. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x2)
- Beware of get-rich-quick schemes online. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x3)
- The bedroom has a blue and white colour scheme. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x4)
- The twins were scheming to stay up late. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x5)
- In the savings scheme, you add £2 a week; how much after 10 weeks? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x6)
- In the grand scheme of things, one bad mark doesn't matter. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x7)
- During this time she studied magic in order to carry out her wicked scheme. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/#x8)

### note

Countable: schemes. Person: schemer; adjective: scheming (sly). Trap: in UK English «scheme» is often neutral (an official plan); in US English it often sounds dishonest. Pronounced «skeem».

### In the corpora

- ["Earmarks" means money set aside for a politician's pet local projects, favourite schemes in his own area (US).](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/25-spin-war-and-violence/5/)
- [Some parents find it hard to accept help because of pride, but help schemes exist so children stay warm and fed.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/38/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «scheme» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scheme/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.