/ əˈfləʊt; NAmE əˈfloʊt/ adjective [ not before noun ]
1.
floating on water :
Somehow we kept the boat afloat.
2.
( of a business, etc. ) having enough money to pay debts; able to survive :
They will have to borrow £10 million next year, just to stay afloat .
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English on flote (from a- to, towards and float ), influenced in Middle English by Old Norse á flot(i) and Old French en flot .