Illustration of lotus
- lotus 2
plural lotuses also lotus
1
or less commonly lotos
: 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
Examples of lotus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even 10th-grade standardized tests were adorned with this year’s G-20 logo, a lotus — the country’s national flower and the symbol of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
—
Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
They’re handmade by female Egyptian artisans and have clasps in the shape of lotus flowers or scarabs—my favorite detail.
—Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2023
Because of these attributions, the lotus is often seen alongside divine figures in some cultures.
—Katie Robinson, Town & Country, 14 June 2023
First and foremost, the lotus has a life cycle unlike any other plant.
—Katie Robinson, Town & Country, 14 June 2023
Few flowers are also religious symbols, but the sacred lotus qualifies.
—Jessica Dukes, House Beautiful, 5 June 2023
This Fresh night cream is also rich in antioxidants, such as super lotus, which hydrates and protects the skin and leaves it more radiant.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 May 2023
It was composed for a ballet about a legendary ruler who finds a lotus that could grant him eternal life.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2023
The new Imperiale depicts the lotus flower with overlapping petals within a polished rose gold lacework.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2023
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Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
They’re handmade by female Egyptian artisans and have clasps in the shape of lotus flowers or scarabs—my favorite detail.
—Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2023
Because of these attributions, the lotus is often seen alongside divine figures in some cultures.
—Katie Robinson, Town & Country, 14 June 2023
First and foremost, the lotus has a life cycle unlike any other plant.
—Katie Robinson, Town & Country, 14 June 2023
Few flowers are also religious symbols, but the sacred lotus qualifies.
—Jessica Dukes, House Beautiful, 5 June 2023
This Fresh night cream is also rich in antioxidants, such as super lotus, which hydrates and protects the skin and leaves it more radiant.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 May 2023
It was composed for a ballet about a legendary ruler who finds a lotus that could grant him eternal life.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2023
The new Imperiale depicts the lotus flower with overlapping petals within a polished rose gold lacework.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lotus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin & Greek; Latin lotus, from Greek lōtos
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of lotus was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing lotus
Articles Related to lotus
Dictionary Entries Near lotus
Cite this Entry
“Lotus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lotus. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
lotus
noun
lo·tus
ˈlōt-əs 
: any of various water lilies including several represented in ancient Egyptian and Hindu art
More from Merriam-Webster on lotus
Nglish: Translation of lotus for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lotus
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