lotus

noun

lo·​tus ˈlō-təs 

plural lotuses also lotus

1

or less commonly lotos

ˈlō-təs 

: a fruit eaten by the lotus-eaters and considered to cause indolence and dreamy contentment

also : a tree (such as Zizyphus lotus of the buckthorn family) reputed to bear this fruit

2

: any of various water lilies including several represented in ancient Egyptian and Hindu art and religious symbolism

3

[New Latin, from Latin]

a

: any of a genus (Lotus) of widely distributed upright herbs or subshrubs of the legume family

b

: sweet clover

Illustration of lotus

• lotus 2

Examples of lotus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Malachite Vase, her largest creation to date at nearly four feet, blooming lotus flowers and Art Nouveau–style leaves and scrollwork draw connections between her Eastern roots and Western upbringing. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026

My Deluxe Corner Suite was the definition of mod Thai chic—all clean lines subtly accented with Thai touches, like a lotus pattern engraved above the bathtub and drapes in Thai silk. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

The god Vishnu is typically depicted with four arms, often holding in them a discus, a club, a conch shell, and a lotus. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

And with my audience specifically, because lotuses are everywhere, in jewelry or in nature. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin & Greek; Latin lotus, from Greek lōtos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing lotus

• lotus-eater
• lotus position

Rhymes for lotus

• motus
• notice
• haliotis
• melilotus
• microtus
• myotis

Kids Definition

lotus

noun

lo·​tus ˈlōt-əs 

: any of various water lilies including several represented in ancient Egyptian and Hindu art