afloat
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a·float
(ə-flōt′)adv. & adj.
1. In a floating position or condition.
2. On a boat or ship away from the shore; at sea.
3. In circulation; prevailing: Rumors are afloat.
4. Awash; flooded.
5. Drifting about; moving without guidance.
6. Free or out of difficulty, especially financial difficulty: couldn't keep the business afloat.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
afloat
(əˈfləʊt)adj, adv (postpositive)
1. floating
2. aboard ship; at sea
3. covered with water; flooded
4. aimlessly drifting: afloat in a sea of indecision.
5. in circulation; afoot: nasty rumours were afloat.
6. free of debt; solvent
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•float
(əˈfloʊt)adv., adj.
1. floating on the water.
2. on board a ship; at sea.
3. covered with water; flooded: The main deck was afloat.
4. drifting; adrift.
5. circulating; in circulation.
6. financially solvent.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
afloat
If someone or something is afloat, they are floating on water rather than sinking.
By kicking constantly he could stay afloat.
Her hooped skirt kept her afloat and saved her.
Be Careful!
You do not use 'afloat' in front of a noun.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | afloat - aimlessly drifting purposeless - not evidencing any purpose or goal |
2. | afloat - borne on the water; floating aground - stuck in a place where a ship can no longer float; "a ship aground offshore"; "a boat aground on the beach waiting for the tide to lift it" | |
3. | afloat - covered with water; "the main deck was afloat (or awash)"; "the monsoon left the whole place awash"; "a flooded bathroom"; "inundated farmlands"; "an overflowing tub" full - containing as much or as many as is possible or normal; "a full glass"; "a sky full of stars"; "a full life"; "the auditorium was full to overflowing" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
afloat
adjective
1. floating, on the surface, buoyant, keeping your head above water, unsubmerged Three hours is a long time to try and stay afloat.
floating submerged, immersed, sunken, capsized, under water
floating submerged, immersed, sunken, capsized, under water
2. solvent, in business, above water Efforts were being made to keep the company afloat.
solvent bust (informal), bankrupt, out of business, insolvent, in receivership
solvent bust (informal), bankrupt, out of business, insolvent, in receivership
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
طَافِ عَلَى سَطْحِ المَاء، عَائِم
na voděplovoucí
flydende
vízen
á floti, fljótandi
plaukiantis
dabūt laivu nost no sēkļapeldošs
na vode
yüzer durumda
afloat
[əˈfləʊt] ADJ → a flotethe oldest ship afloat → el barco más viejo que sigue a flote
by a miracle we were still afloat → quedamos a flote de milagro
the largest navy afloat → la mayor marina del mundo
to spend one's life afloat → pasar toda la vida a bordo
to keep sth afloat (lit, fig) → mantener algo a flote
to stay or keep afloat (lit, fig) → mantenerse a flote
to get a business afloat → lanzar un negocio
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
afloat
[əˈfləʊt] adj → à flot
adv
(= solvent) to keep sth afloat [+ business] → maintenir qch à flot
to stay afloat [company] → se maintenir à flot
They are borrowing money just to stay afloat → Ils empruntent de l'argent pour se maintenir à flot.
to stay afloat [company] → se maintenir à flot
They are borrowing money just to stay afloat → Ils empruntent de l'argent pour se maintenir à flot.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
afloat
adj pred, adv
(Naut) to be afloat → schwimmen; to stay afloat → sich über Wasser halten; (thing) → schwimmen, nicht untergehen; to set a ship afloat → ein Schiff zu Wasser lassen; at last we were afloat again → endlich waren wir wieder flott; cargo afloat → schwimmende Ladung; the largest navy afloat → die größte Flotte auf See; service afloat → Dienst m → auf See; to serve afloat → auf See dienen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
afloat
(əˈfləut) adjective floating. We've got the boat afloat at last.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.