lotic

L1O1T1I1C3

adjective

Characterized by flowing water; swiftly flowing; concerned with flowing rivers, streams, etc.

Opposite
RareScrabble 7

Meanings

adjectivelotic (comparative more lotic, superlative most lotic)

comparative more lotic · superlative most lotic

  1. Characterized by flowing water; swiftly flowing; concerned with flowing rivers, streams, etc.

    This particular area is subject to the transition from a more lotic environment to the lentic environment existing in the pool area.

    1981, M. G. Tesmer, D. R. Wefring, “Annual Macroinvertebrate Sampling - A Low-cost Tool for Ecological Assessment of Effluent Impact”, in J. M. Bates, C. I. Weber, editors, Ecological Assessments of Effluent Impacts on Communities of Indigenous Aquatic Organisms, page 268
    3 more examples

    Turning now to more lotic environments, Norelius (1967) and Bronmark and Malmqvist (1982) have studied populations of Anodonta anita and Unio pictorum inhabiting Swedish lake outlets.

    2000, Robert T. Dillon, The Ecology of Freshwater Molluscs, page 26

    2003, J. Kolding, B. Musando, N. Songore, Inshore Fishing and Fish Population Changes in Lake Kariba, Eyolf Jul-Larsen (editor), Management, co-management or no management?: major dilemmas in southern African freshwater fisheries, 2: Case studies, page 71, The rheophilic species, Chiloglanis neumanii, Opsaridium zambezense (and possibly also Leptoglanis rotundiceps) are now confined to the tributaries or the two more lotic western basins (Balon, 1974a, 1974b).

    Among the main tributaries of the French Rhône River (Arve, Guiers, Ain, Saône, Isère, Eyrieux, Drôme, Ardeche, Durance, Gard), Berahou (1993) considered the lower Ain as one of the most lotic.

    2009, Klement Tockner, Urs Uehlinger, Christopher T. Robinson, Rivers of Europe, unnumbered page
  2. biologyLiving in flowing water; adapted to life in flowing water.

    The stream-dwelling species are among the most lotic of anisopterous dragonflies.

    1975, J. G. Needham, A Manual of the Dragonflies of North America, page 94
    2 more examples

    Waugoshance point is an ideal consolidated substrate, wave zone habitat, and this was evidenced by the more lotic benthic fauna found there.

    1986, Ronald Rossmann, editor, Impact of the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, page 244

    Very few lotic insects are strong swimmers, probably because of the energy expenditure required to swim against a current.

    2006, Timothy D. Schowalter, Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach, page 43

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveof or relating to or living in actively moving water

Opposite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinlotus
  2. Englishlotic

From Latin lotus, past participle of lavare (“to wash”), + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish virtaavassa vedessä elävä, virtaavan veden
  • virtaavassa vedessä eläväliving in flowing water; adapted to life in flowing water
  • virtaavan vedenliving in flowing water; adapted to life in flowing water
French lotique
  • lotiqueliving in flowing water; adapted to life in flowing water
Italian lotico
  • loticoliving in flowing water; adapted to life in flowing water

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with lotic

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Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

lotic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lotic

MLA

“lotic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lotic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lotic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lotic.

Source: lotic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.