Water lily (5)

Latest answer — September 25, 2026

21 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

A lotus is an aquatic plant with large floating leaves and conspicuous flowers, including species commonly called water lilies. It is a noun naming the plant.

Clue type:
Definition
A pink lotus flower growing in a pond among floating leaves.

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 25, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Branches-and-twigs plastered technique (6,3,4)
  2. 8Play hookey (4,3)
  3. 9Trend (5)
  4. 10Lawn (4)
  5. 11Melt (8)
  6. 13Soothing ointment (6)
  7. 14Field sight - tow cap (anag) (6)
  8. 17Up to you - piano lot (anag) (8)
  9. 19Pig - or daddy hedgehog (4)
  10. 21Water lily (5)
  11. 22Bar (7)
  12. 24Tale of woe, told for sympathy (4-4,5)

Down

  1. 1Trap (3)
  2. 2Side shoot (7)
  3. 3Hover menacingly (4)
  4. 4Conversant (2,4)
  5. 5Group of teams in league (8)
  6. 6Heavenly messenger (5)
  7. 7Tower of London warder (9)
  8. 10Bulgur wheat, parsley, tomatoes, olive oil and lemon juice (9)
  9. 12Binge (8)
  10. 15Qualification (7)
  11. 16Cloth (6)
  12. 18Private teacher (5)
  13. 20Gentle touch (4)
  14. 23Bonfire Night bloke? (3)

The answer to “Water lily (5)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is LOTUS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 25, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 21-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Water lily (5)” answer

LOTUS (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is LOTUS.

What does LOTUS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of LOTUS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • either of two large water lilies
  • a plant whose fruit induced a dreamy forgetfulness and an unwillingness to leave
  • the flower of the sacred lotus as a symbol in Asian art and religion

When else has “Water lily (5)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 25, 2026 (most recent) → LOTUS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Water lily (5)”?

The answer is LOTUS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 25, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Water lily (5)”?

5 letters: LOTUS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 25, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 21-Across.

Can “Water lily (5)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for September 25, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Guardian Quick Crossword is published by The Guardian; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.