lotus

noun

lo·​tus ˈlō-təs How to pronounce lotus (audio)
plural lotuses also lotus
1
or less commonly lotos : 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

Illustration of lotus

Illustration of lotus
  • lotus 2

Examples of lotus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Indian Air Force helicopters showered the temple with flower petals as Modi placed a lotus in front of the black stone idol, which was adorned with gold ornaments. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024 With 220 pieces, there’s enough for three 12-inch lotus flowers. Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024 Some of this year’s display highlights include a 20-foot cherry blossom tree, an Asian zodiac trail and 20 giant lotus flowers. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2024 But lotuses already embodied renewal and the life force in Indian art before Buddhism. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2023 This 100-milliliter bottle offers various scent notes including green apple, green leaf, mimosa, and water lotus. Jenna Clark, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2023 Designed to evoke a Pharaonic lotus flower, the structure was commissioned by President Gamal Abdel Nasser and completed in 1961. Nada El Sawy, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023 Arrange artichokes, heads of lettuce, and lotus pods in similar colored vases, or use dry split peas as a vase filler. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2023 The theme of the upper house would be the lotus, a native flower—and the official symbol of the ruling B.J.P. Across the Central Vista, references to Islamic elements in India’s past were being expunged. Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lotus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin & Greek; Latin lotus, from Greek lōtos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of lotus was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near lotus

Cite this Entry

“Lotus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lotus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lotus

noun
lo·​tus ˈlōt-əs How to pronounce lotus (audio)
: any of various water lilies including several represented in ancient Egyptian and Hindu art

More from Merriam-Webster on lotus

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