| Title | afloat |
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| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary afloat ETYMOLOGY Middle English aflot, from Old English on flot, from on + flot, from flot deep water, sea; akin to Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet DATE before 12th century 1. a. borne on or as if on the water b. being at sea 2. free of difficulties : self-sufficient the inheritance kept them afloat for years 3. a. circulating about nasty stories were afloat b. adrift English Etymology afloat O.E. aflote, from a- "on" (see a- (1)) + float (q.v.). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 afloat afloat / E5flEut; NAmE E5flout / adjective[not before noun] 1. floating on water (在水上)漂浮: Somehow we kept the boat afloat. 我们想办法使船没有下沉。 2. (of a business, etc. 企业等) having enough money to pay debts; able to survive 有偿债能力；能维持下去: They will have to borrow £10 million next year, just to stay afloat. 明年他们得举债 1 000 万英镑才能维持下去。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English afloat adj. 1 floating on water VERBS be | remain, stay | set sth The children set their new boat afloat on the lake. | keep sth struggling to keep the vessel afloat 2 able to survive financially VERBS keep, stay He is struggling to keep afloat after a series of emotional and health problems. | keep sth They had to sell their assets to keep the business afloat. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged afloat \əˈflōt, usu -ōd.+V\ adverb (or adjective) Etymology: Middle English aflote, aflot, from Old English on flote, on flot, from on + flote, flot, dative & accusative respectively of flot deep water, sea; akin to Old English flēotan to float — more at float 1. a. : borne on the water : not aground : floating < though badly battered, the boat remained afloat > b. : at sea : away from port < all the ships are stillafloat > c. : buoyed up, floating, or suspended on, in, or as if on or in water, air, or any similar medium < water lilies placidly afloat > < her hair afloat in the summer breeze > < afloat on a tide of happiness — Marcia Davenport > d. : on shipboard — used of persons or goods < preference for duty afloat — Louis Auchincloss > < a large quantity of wheat still afloat > 2. : free of difficulties, especially financial ones or those requiring the intervention of outside assistance : self-sufficient < the inheritance kept them afloat for years > 3. a. : circulating about from one individual or place to another :rumored < a story was afloat that they faced bankruptcy > b. : moving about haphazardly without guide or control : adrift < they were confused, afloat, unable to plan for the future > 4. : flooded with or submerged under water : awash < the ship's main deck was afloat > 5. : actively functioning : fully operating < a neat publishing venture, set afloat at the right time > |
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