lotus

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin lōtus, from Ancient Greek λωτός (lōtós).

noun

1. A kind of aquatic plant, genus Nelumbo in the family Nelumbonaceae.
2. A water lily, genus Nymphaea, especially those of Egypt or India.
3. A legendary plant eaten by the Lotophagi of the Odyssey that caused drowsiness and euphoria.
4. A number of other plants bearing lotus in their scientific or common names (see Derived terms below).
   1. Diospyros lotus, date plum or Caucasian persimmon.
   2. Lotus, a terrestrial genus with small flowers that includes bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches.
   3. Ziziphus lotus, a shrub species with edible fruit.
5. An architectural motif of ancient Egyptian temples.