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

The entry pathway is suspended over a pool of lotus flowers, followed by a mystical winding road shaded by the canopy (where a chase scene was filmed), and the open-air lobby which overlooks the resort’s statement design piece: a long pool filled with floating lotuses. —Anna Haines, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Droplets bouncing off surfaces are an everyday phenomenon, like raindrops bouncing off lotus leaves or water drops sizzling in a hot pan, levitating and sliding around—aka the Leidenfrost effect. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Mar. 2025

Gorgeous, life-sized white lotuses stand tall in the room alongside chic furnishings, plus one of my favorite details: a one-of-a-kind tea stand designed by 3D Vault in Puglia, Italy, flown in directly by the artists to ensure its safe arrival. —Jenn Rice, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Coins, lotus tiles and building materials were also found, according to the release. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2025

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