Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hlot; akin to Old High German hlōz
Date: before 12th century
1: an object used as a counter in determining a question by chance 2 a: the use of lots as a means of deciding something b: the resulting choice 3 a: something that comes to one upon whom a lot has fallen :shareb: one's way of life or worldly fate :fortune 4 a: a portion of land b: a measured parcel of land having fixed boundaries and designated on a plot or survey c: a motion-picture studio and its adjoining property d: an establishment for the storage or sale of motor vehicles <a used car lot> 5 a: a number of units of an article, a single article, or a parcel of articles offered as one item (as in an auction sale) b: all the members of a present group, kind, or quantity —usually used with the<sampled the whole lot of desserts> 6 a: a number of associated persons :set<fell in with a rough lot>b:kind, sort 7: a considerable quantity or extent <a lot of money><lots of friends>