- 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.
- the fruit itself.
- any aquatic plant of the genus Nelumbo, of the water lily family, having shieldlike leaves and showy, solitary flowers usually projecting above the water.
- any of several water lilies of the genus Nymphaea.
- a decorative motif derived from such a plant and used widely in ancient art, as on the capitals of Egyptian columns.
- any shrubby plant of the genus Lotus, of the legume family, having red, pink, yellow, or white flowers.
- (in Greek mythology) a fruit that induces forgetfulness and a dreamy languor in those who eat it
- the plant bearing this fruit, thought to be the jujube, the date, or any of various other 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
- a similar plant, Nelumbo nucifera, which is the sacred lotus of India, China, and Tibet and also sacred in Egypt: family Nelumbonaceae
- a representation of such a plant, common in Hindu, Buddhist, and ancient Egyptian carving and decorative art
- any leguminous plant of the genus Lotus, of the Old World and North America, having yellow, pink, or white pealike flowers
