INDEX:
1. on or on top of something
2. to be on the surface of water
RELATED WORDS
switch on : ↑ SWITCH ON OR OFF
on a particular subject : ↑ ABOUT
on a particular day : ↑ TIME (2)
see also
↑ TOP
↑ ABOVE
↑ UP
↑ UNDER/BELOW
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1. on or on top of something
▷ on /ɒnǁɑːn, ɔːn/ [preposition]
on the surface of something :
▪ Richard put the letter down on the table.
▪ Neil Armstrong was the first person ever to set foot on the Moon.
▪ There weren’t enough chairs so I had to sit on the floor.
▪ Four bottles of wine were standing on the shelf.
▷ on top of /ɒn ˈtɒp ɒvǁ-ˈtɑːp-/ [preposition]
on the highest part of something tall :
▪ On top of the church was a large illuminated cross.
▪ The plane crashed on top of Sugarbush Mountain, in Vermont.
one on top of the other
in a pile
▪ Joey stacked the crates one on top of the other.
▷ onto /ˈɒntuː/ [preposition]
into a position on the surface of something :
▪ Nancy walked onto the stage and took the microphone in her hand.
▪ Spoon the mixture onto the top of the cake and spread it evenly.
▷ over /ˈəʊvəʳ/ [preposition]
on something and covering it :
▪ There was a white sheet over the victim’s body.
▪ She wore a coat over her sweater.
put/lay/throw something over something
▪ She put a blanket over the child’s legs to keep him warm.
all over
on all parts of something
▪ He spilled beer all over my feet.
▪ There were toys all over the floor.
2. to be on the surface of water
▷ float /fləʊt/ [intransitive verb]
to be supported on the surface of water by the water itself :
▪ Ice is less dense than water, which is why it floats.
float in the water
▪ Annie was floating on her back in the water.
▪ They could see something pale and white floating in the water.
float on water/the surface/the river etc
▪ a cup of coffee with black bits floating on the surface
float along/down etc
▪ The empty boat floated off down the river.
floating [adjective only before noun]
▪ Floating plants are useful because they shade the surface of the water.
▪ a massive floating platform
▷ afloat /əˈfləʊt/ []
be/stay/keep afloat
to stay on the surface of water without sinking :
▪ I moved my hands and feet slightly to stay afloat.
▪ Those in the water tried to hold on to the boats that were still afloat.