1. An elaborate and systematic plan of action
   "The company devised a clever marketing scheme to boost sales";
   - strategy
    
2. A schematic or preliminary plan
   "The architect presented a scheme of the building project to the clients";
   - outline, schema
    
3. A group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole
   "The colour scheme of the room tied all the decorative elements together";
   - system
    
4. An internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world
   "The scientist's scheme of particle interactions was revised based on new experimental data";
   - schema
    
5. A statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery
   "His response was just another scheme to avoid addressing the issue";
   - dodge, dodging

1. Devise a system or form a scheme for
   "The engineers schemed a new irrigation system"
    
2. Plot something harmful; scheme in an underhand manner
   "The politicians schemed to overthrow the government";
   - intrigue, connive

Derived forms: scheming, schemes, schemed

Type of: falsehood, falsity, group, grouping, internal representation, mental representation, plan, plan of action, plot, program [N. Amer], programme [Brit, Cdn], representation, untruth

Encyclopedia: Scheme