lotus

[ loh-tuhs ]

noun

, plural lo·tus·es.

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.

lotus

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lotus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lotus¹

C16: via Latin from Greek lōtos, from Semitic; related to Hebrew lōt myrrh

Example Sentences

Starting eighth in horrendously wet conditions on the original 8.8-mile Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Clark quickly moved to the front in his Lotus.

From BBC

And Adam Scott will return with “Severance” and somebody may well pop from the next season of “The White Lotus.”

From Los Angeles Times

Plaza, who rose to sitcom stardom on “Parks and Recreation,” garnered widespread acclaim for her portrayal of the quick-witted employment lawyer Harper Spiller in Season 2 of Mike White’s “The White Lotus.”

From Los Angeles Times

I've been filming “The White Lotus” in Thailand, and we had some time off and I was just walking through the city.

From Salon

Between the amalgamation of pandemic snacking, the second Italy-set season of “White Lotus” and the advent of “girl dinner,” have actually catapulted the trend.

From Salon