a ‧ float /əˈfləʊt $ əˈfloʊt/ BrE AmE adjective [not before noun]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: on flot 'on the sea' ]
1 . having enough money to operate or stay out of debt
keep (somebody/something) afloat/stay afloat
The Treasury borrowed £40 billion, just to stay afloat.
2 . floating on water
keep (somebody/something) afloat/stay afloat
Somehow we kept the ship afloat.
—afloat adverb