/ə'fləʊt; ə`flot/
adj [pred 作表语]
1 floating in water or air （在水中或空中）漂浮着
*The boat stuck on a sandbank but we soon got it afloat again. 小船在沙丘搁浅, 没过多久我们就又使它航行自如了.
* The ship was listing badly but still kept afloat. 船倾侧得很厉害, 但却仍然漂浮不沉.
2 at sea; on board ship 在海上; 在船上
*enjoy life afloat 喜欢海上生活.
3 out of debt or difficulties 无债; 无困难
*The firm managed to stay afloat during the recession. 在经济衰退期间, 公司设法渡过了难关.
4 functioning 起作用
*get a new business afloat, ie start it 创办新的企业.
5 (of rumours) being generally talked about; circulating （指谣言）传播; 流传
*There's a story afloat that he'll resign. 有个传闻说他要辞职.

adj [not before noun]
[Language: Old English;Origin: on flot 'on the sea']
having enough money to operate or stay out of debt
keep (sb/sth) afloat/stay afloat
　The Treasury borrowed £40 billion, just to stay afloat.
floating on water
keep (sb/sth) afloat/stay afloat
　Somehow we kept the ship afloat.
>afloatadv