scheme
n. countablen. an organized plan or system for doing something. In British English, it often refers to a helpful government program, but in American English, it can sound like a secret or dishonest trick.
n. a systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect. Often carries a pejorative connotation of deviousness in North American English, whereas in British English it frequently denotes a neutral or positive government-sponsored initiative.
The city started a new recycling scheme this month.
The government launched a training scheme to help young people find jobs in the growing technology sector.
While the architectural scheme for the new library was visually stunning, the committee questioned whether the budget could support such an ambitious structural design.
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.
Commonly used with the preposition 'for' or followed by an infinitive ('a scheme to improve').
he has a scheme of how to do ithe has a scheme for doing itScheme is typically followed by 'for' plus a gerund or 'to' plus an infinitive, rather than 'of how'.