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

While the recurring lotus motif throughout the hotel came long before White Lotus, new experiences geared toward fans like me highlight how significant the flower is to Thai people. —Anna Haines, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2025

It’s further enriched with CoQ10, which supports collagen and elastin production and has anti-inflammatory lotus extract to boot. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2025

The pond, also known as the duck pond, featured vibrant green lotus plants that bloomed in the summer. —Sarah Linn, Sacramento Bee, 3 Jan. 2025

Like the Lotus in the muck, a Buddhist metaphor, the mud is necessary for survival, but the lotus can still transform into something beautiful. —Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 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