lotus

American  

[loh-tuhs] / ˈloʊ təs /

noun

• lotuses
  plural

1. a plant believed to be a jujube or elm, referred to in Greek legend as yielding a fruit that induced a state of dreamy and contented forgetfulness in those who ate it.

2. the fruit itself.

3. any aquatic plant of the genus Nelumbo, of the water lily family, having shieldlike leaves and showy, solitary flowers usually projecting above the water.

4. any of several water lilies of the genus Nymphaea.

5. a decorative motif derived from such a plant and used widely in ancient art, as on the capitals of Egyptian columns.

6. any shrubby plant of the genus Lotus, of the legume family, having red, pink, yellow, or white flowers.

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lotus British  

/ ˈləʊtəs /

noun

1. (in Greek mythology) a fruit that induces forgetfulness and a dreamy languor in those who eat it

2. the plant bearing this fruit, thought to be the jujube, the date, or any of various other plants

3. any of several water lilies of tropical Africa and Asia, esp the white lotus ( Nymphaea lotus ), which was regarded as sacred in ancient Egypt

4. a similar plant, Nelumbo nucifera, which is the sacred lotus of India, China, and Tibet and also sacred in Egypt: family Nelumbonaceae

5. a representation of such a plant, common in Hindu, Buddhist, and ancient Egyptian carving and decorative art

6. any leguminous plant of the genus Lotus, of the Old World and North America, having yellow, pink, or white pealike flowers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lotuses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lotus

1530–40; < Latin lōtus, lōtos < Greek lōtós the lotus plant, perhaps of Semitic origin

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lotus lotuses

Hengyang was a serene location surrounded by hills and lotus ponds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

At the surface, the foam develops an extremely rough texture that strongly repels water, much like the surface of a lotus leaf.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

One is a lotus made of lab-grown diamonds and a tiny gold rocket with micro-sculptures of three of India's best-known scientists.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

"In a sport once seen as unpopular and overlooked, it feels as if a lotus has truly blossomed."

From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026

Nehemia still sat with the queen, wearing a gold-and-turquoise mask with a lotus motif.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Spectacular celadons in forms that imitate lotuses, gourds or melons decorated with delicate inlaid and under-carved designs demonstrate peak Goryeo dynasty craftsmanship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

They can range from simple geometric shapes resembling petals to highly detailed and realistic representations of various flowers like roses, lotuses and jasmine.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 24, 2023

There are busier spots in town, perhaps above all the tourist-besieged Huxinting Teahouse, an ornate pavilion rising on stilts over a lake of lotuses.

From New York Times ● Oct. 12, 2021

A tradition that likely started around the late 10th century, foot binding was designed to turn a woman's feet into 3-inch-long "golden lotuses" by folding the toes under and binding them tightly.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2021

He had the candles ready on the countertop, standing in brass holders shaped like lotuses, but they ate under the glow of the copper-shaded ceiling lamp that hung over the table.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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