scheme
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an official plan or system for doing or organizing something.
n.a systematic plan or arrangement for attaining some particular object or putting a particular theory into effect.
Simple“The government introduced a new scheme to help young people buy their first home.”
In context“The local council launched a comprehensive recycling scheme aimed at reducing landfill waste by forty percent over the next decade.”
UsageCommonly used in British English where American English might prefer 'program' or 'plan'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a secret and often dishonest plan to get something for yourself.
n.a clandestine or devious method of obtaining an advantage; a plot.
Simple“He was arrested for his part in a scheme to steal money from the company.”
In context“The investigators uncovered a complex fraudulent scheme involving offshore accounts and shell companies designed to evade federal taxes.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the way that things are arranged in a system.
n.an orderly combination or arrangement of related parts or elements.
Simple“The designer chose a bright color scheme for the new office.”
In context“The rhyming scheme of the sonnet follows a traditional pattern that emphasizes the shift in tone during the final couplet.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a large group of houses built by the local government.
n.a public housing estate, typically consisting of low-income or social housing.
Simple“He grew up on a large housing scheme on the edge of the city.”
In context“The documentary explores the social challenges faced by residents living in the post-war schemes of Glasgow.”
Teacher's tipThis usage is specifically associated with Scotland and parts of Northern England.
Synonymshousing estateproject - 05 C2 Proficiency
n.the part of a web address that tells the computer which protocol to use, like 'http'.
n.the initial component of a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that specifies the protocol or mechanism for accessing a resource.
Simple“The 'https' scheme indicates that the connection to the website is secure.”
In context“When parsing the URL, the application first identifies the scheme to determine which handler should process the request.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make secret or dishonest plans.
v.to make clandestine or devious plans, often with the intent to deceive or gain an unfair advantage.
Simple“They were scheming to take over the business while the owner was away.”
In context“The rival factions spent months scheming against one another, each attempting to secure the majority vote before the annual general meeting.”
UsageOften used with 'to' followed by an infinitive, or with 'against'.
Usage develop scheme · establish scheme · general scheme
“However, employment rates among those who complete supported internship schemes can be as high as 70%.”
“He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the discount scheme was a "positive first step", adding that last year the UK spent more than £1bn paying wind farms to turn off on windy days.”
From late Middle English scheame, from Medieval Latin schēma (“figure, form”), from Ancient Greek σχῆμα (skhêma, “form, shape”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “I hold”). Doublet of schema. Compare sketch.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.