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lost arrow
lost cause
Lost Generation
lost property
lost tribes
lost wax
lost workday
Lot (2)
lot
lota
loth
Lothario
Lothian
loti
lotic
lotion
lottery
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lot
lot [ lot ]


pron a lot  or lots [ lots ] 
Definition:
 
much or many: a large amount, or a large number of people or things ( takes a singular or plural verb )
I learned a lot.
A lot of people came.
Lots of exercise is what you need.
You have lots of choices.


adverb 
Definition:
 
1. a lot  or lots much: to a great extent or degree
laughed a lot
I'm feeling lots better, thanks.
2. often: often or much of the time
went out to restaurants a lot


noun  (plural lots)
Definition:
 
1. piece of land: a small area of land that has fixed boundaries
a vacant lot
2. movies film studio: a film studio together with the land that belongs to it
3. items in auction: an item or group of items on sale at an auction
I bought the silver as one lot.
4. set: a set or group of things or people
One lot of tourists has left the hotel already.
That lot go over there.
5. type of group: a group of people or things of a particular kind ( informal ) ( takes a singular or plural verb )
They're a cheerful lot.
6. destiny: the things somebody has or experiences in life
our lot in life
7. random choice: the process of choosing something at random, especially by taking from a set of pieces of paper or straws, one of which has a concealed mark or is shorter than the others
chosen by lot
[ Old English hlot "object used to make decisions by chance, portion, destiny" < Germanic]

a bad lot an unpleasant or disreputable person (informal)
Don't have anything to do with him: he's a bad lot.
all over the lot 

1. everywhere 

2. in a state of disorder or confusion
a whole lot very much or a great deal (informal)
draw or cast lots to choose something at random, e.g. a straw or piece of paper, to determine an outcome
We cast lots to decide who should go first.
the lot everything, or everything considered as one (informal)

Word Usage
a lot or alot?

The superficial similarity of a lot to adjectives and adverbs like alone and aloud gives rise to a temptation to treat the expression as one word, but this is nonstandard usage. In formal writing much, many, a great deal of, and the like can be substituted for a lot.
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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