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

The landscape includes large areas of rice paddies along with lotus fields, cultivated cropland, and pastureland.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 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

Among England's Tudor rose, Scotland's thistle, the Welsh leek and the Irish shamrock are the Canadian maple leaf and India's lotus flower.

From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2025

Mountain yam, bamboo pith and shoots, lotus seeds and gorgon fruit, which Yin says “looks like chickpeas, and tastes like tapioca,” all appear on his menu, too.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2025

A lotus flower doesn’t grow in a swimming pool, but grows in a muddy pond.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

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

The lilies and lotuses that stirred Mr. Stella grow on the banks of a little lake, edged with wavy swaths of waterlilies, with dark green pads and white blooms.

From New York Times ● Nov. 30, 2022

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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