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

How to Start a Lotus Garden The easiest way to plant lotuses is to purchase lotus tubers. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2024

The sleeping lotus is a whole (delicious) vibe, though. —Arika Herron, Axios, 15 Aug. 2024

In all cases, the lotus is rarely a bud and almost always a lush, open bloom. —Archana Venkatesan, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024

At an intersection, we got caught between a pair of old red buses, both decorated with South Asian psychedelia—the intricate leaf-and-petal patterns, the Himalayan idylls, the elephants and lotus flowers surrounded by Urdu script, the hanging fringes. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2024

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

Kids Definition

lotus

noun

lo·​tus ˈlōt-əs 

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