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

My Deluxe Corner Suite was the definition of mod Thai chic—all clean lines subtly accented with Thai touches, like a lotus pattern engraved above the bathtub and drapes in Thai silk. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Rising over Beira Lake, Colombo Lotus Tower in South Asia ascends 1,168 feet and is designed to resemble a blooming lotus, a symbol of purity and renewal in Sri Lankan culture. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

The god Vishnu is typically depicted with four arms, often holding in them a discus, a club, a conch shell, and a lotus. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

And with my audience specifically, because lotuses are everywhere, in jewelry or in nature. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

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