one of a set of objects, as straws or pebbles, drawn or thrown from a container to decide a question or choice by chance.
the casting or drawing of such objects as a method of deciding something: to choose a person by lot.
the decision or choice made by such a method.
allotted share or portion: to receive one's lot of an inheritance.
the portion in life assigned by fate or Providence; one's fate, fortune, or destiny: Her lot had not been a happy one.
a distinct portion or piece of land: a building lot.
a piece of land forming a part of a district, city, or other community.
South Midland and Southern U.S.a farmyard or barnyard.
a piece of land having the use specified by the attributive noun or adjective: a parking lot; a used-car lot.
Movies. a motion-picture studio and its surrounding property.
a distinct portion or parcel of anything, as of merchandise: The furniture was to be auctioned off in 20 lots.
a number of things or persons collectively: There's one more, and that's the lot.
kind of person; sort: He's a bad lot.
Often lots.a great many or a great deal: a lot of books; lots of money.
Chiefly British. a tax or duty.
verb (used with object),lot·ted,lot·ting.
to divide or distribute by lot (sometimes followed by out): to lot furniture for sale; to lot out apples by the basketful.
to assign to one as his or her lot; allot.
to divide into lots, as land.
Obsolete. to cast or draw lots for.
verb (used without object),lot·ted,lot·ting.
to draw lots.
adverb
Often lots.a great deal; greatly: Thanks a lot for the ride. I care lots about my family.
Idioms for lot
cast (in) one's lot with, to ally oneself with; share the life and fortunes of: She had cast her lot with the bohemian crowd.
draw / cast lots, to settle a question by the use of lots: They drew lots to see who would go first.
Origin of lot
before 950; 1805–15 for def. 14; Middle English; Old English hlot portion, choice, decision; cognate with Dutch lot,Old Norse hlutr; akin to Old English hlīet,German Los,Old Norse hlaut,Gothic hlauts lot
SYNONYMS FOR lot
4 part, quota.
7 plot, parcel.
12 group, crowd, gang.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR lot ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM lot
lotter,nounin·ter·lot,verb (used with object)in·ter·lot·ted,in·ter·lot·ting.sublot,nounun·lot·ted,adjective
Words nearby lot
lost river, Lost River Range, lost tribes, Lost Tribes of Israel, lost-wax process, lot, lota, lote, lo tech, Lotensin, Lot-et-Garonne
Definition for lot (2 of 4)
Lot1
[ lot ]
/ lɒt /
noun
the nephew of Abraham. His wife was changed into a pillar of salt for looking back during their flight from Sodom. Genesis 13:1–12, 19.
Definition for lot (3 of 4)
Lot2
[ lawt ]
/ lɔt /
noun
a river in S France, flowing W to the Garonne. 300 miles (480 km) long.
a department in S France. 2,018 sq. mi. (5,225 sq. km). Capital: Cahors.
There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If anything the work the two cops and the maintenance guy were doing deserves more respect and probably helped a lot more people.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There was a lot of prison fiction from movies and books to mine.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A lot of people ring in the New Year with vows to lose weight and exercise.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Carlier said to Kayerts in a careless tone: "I say, chief, I might just as well give him a lift with this lot into the store."
Tales of Unrest|Joseph Conrad
He wrote a lot of letters this morning and put them in his dispatch-box.
'Farewell, Nikola'|Guy Boothby
So I think I did a good job and made a lot of friends, who used to write to me from there.
Warren Commission (9 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
The Apostles|Ernest Renan
I've lived and borne my lot these eight or nine long years, and can bear it longer if need be.
Campaigning with Crook and Stories of Army Life|Charles King
British Dictionary definitions for lot (1 of 3)
lot
/ (lɒt) /
pronoun
(functioning as singular or plural preceded by a) a great number or quantitya lot to do; a lot of people; a lot of trouble
noun
a collection of objects, items, or peoplea nice lot of youngsters
portion in life; destiny; fortuneit falls to my lot to be poor
any object, such as a straw or slip of paper, drawn from others at random to make a selection or choice (esp in the phrase draworcast lots)
the use of lots in making a selection or choice (esp in the phrase by lot)
an assigned or apportioned share
an item or set of items for sale in an auction
mainlyUS and Canadianan area of landa parking lot
US and Canadiana piece of land with fixed boundaries
mainlyUS and Canadiana film studio and the site on which it is located
a bad lotan unpleasant or disreputable person
cast in one's lot withorthrow in one's lot withto join with voluntarily and share the fortunes of
the lotthe entire amount or number
adverb(preceded by a)informal
to a considerable extent, degree, or amount; very muchto delay a lot
a great deal of the time or oftento sing madrigals a lot
verblots, lottingorlotted
to draw lots for (something)
(tr)to divide (land, etc) into lots
(tr) another word for allot
See also lots
Word Origin for lot
Old English hlot; related to Old High German lug portion of land, Old Norse hlutr lot, share
British Dictionary definitions for lot (2 of 3)
Lot1
/ (lɒt) /
noun
a department of S central France, in Midi-Pyrénées region. Capital: Cahors. Pop: 164 413 (2003 est). Area: 5226 sq km (2038 sq miles)
a river in S France, rising in the Cévennes and flowing west into the Garonne River. Length: about 483 km (300 miles)
British Dictionary definitions for lot (3 of 3)
Lot2
/ (lɒt) /
noun
Old TestamentAbraham's nephew: he escaped the destruction of Sodom, but his wife was changed into a pillar of salt for looking back as they fled (Genesis 19)
see a lot; carry (a lot of) weight; cast one's lot with; fat chance (lot); have (a lot) going for one; have a lot on one's plate; leave a lot to be desired; quite a bit (lot); think a lot of.