lo·tus also lo·tos (l  t s)n. 1. a. An aquatic plant (Nelumbo nucifera) native to southern Asia and Australia, having large leaves, fragrant, pinkish flowers, a broad, rounded, perforated seedpod, and fleshy rhizomes. b. The edible seed, leaf, or rhizome of this plant. c. Any of several similar or related plants, such as the water lilies Nymphaea caerula or N. lotus. 2. A representation of any of various lotuses or similar plants in Egyptian or classical sculpture, architecture, or art. 3. Any of several leguminous plants of the genus Lotus. 4. Greek Mythology a. A small Mediterranean tree or shrub whose fruit was eaten by the lotus-eaters. b. The fruit of this plant. [Latin l tus, name of several plants, from Greek ltos.] |
lotus [ˈləʊtəs]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) (in Greek mythology) a fruit that induces forgetfulness and a dreamy languor in those who eat it
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) the plant bearing this fruit, thought to be the jujube, the date, or any of various other plants
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) 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. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a similar plant, Nelumbo nucifera, which is the sacred lotus of India, China, and Tibet and also sacred in Egypt: family Nelumbonaceae
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a representation of such a plant, common in Hindu, Buddhist, and ancient Egyptian carving and decorative art
6. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any leguminous plant of the genus Lotus, of the Old World and North America, having yellow, pink, or white pealike flowers Also called (rare) lotos
[via Latin from Greek lōtos, from Semitic; related to Hebrew lōt myrrh]
lo•tus (ˈloʊ təs)
n., pl. -tus•es.
1. a plant believed to be a jujube or elm and 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 of this plant.
3. any aquatic plant of the genus Nelumbo, of the water lily family, having shieldlike leaves and showy, solitary flowers usu. 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.
6. any shrubby plant of the genus Lotus, of the legume family, having red, pink, yellow, or white flowers.
[1530–40; < Latin lōtus < Greek lōtós]
Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  lotus - native to eastern Asia; widely cultivated for its large pink or white flowerswater lily - an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae |
| 2. | Lotus - annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs rosid dicot genus - a genus of dicotyledonous plants Papilionoideae, subfamily Papilionoideae - alternative name used in some classification systems for the family Papilionaceae babies' slippers, bacon and eggs, bird's foot clover, Lotus corniculatus, bird's foot trefoil - European forage plant having claw-shaped pods introduced in America | |
| 3. |  lotus - white Egyptian lotus: water lily of Egypt to southeastern Africa; held sacred by the Egyptianswater lily - an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae genus Nymphaea, Nymphaea - the type genus of the family Nymphaeaceae; any of a variety of water lilies |
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