floor

[flawr]

noun

1. that part of a room, hallway, or the like, that forms its lower enclosing surface and upon which one walks.

2. a continuous, supporting surface extending horizontally throughout a building, having a number of rooms, apartments, or the like, and constituting one level or stage in the structure; story.

3. a level, supporting surface in any structure.

   the elevator floor.

4. one of two or more layers of material composing a floor.

   rough floor; finish floor.

5. a platform or prepared level area for a particular use.

   a threshing floor.

6. the bottom of any more or less hollow place.

   the floor of a tunnel.

7. a more or less flat extent of surface.

   the floor of the ocean.

8. the part of a legislative chamber, meeting room, etc., where the members sit, and from which they speak.

9. the right of one member to speak from such a place in preference to other members.

   The senator from Alaska has the floor.

10. the area of a floor, as in a factory or retail store, where items are actually made or sold, as opposed to offices, supply areas, etc..

    There are only two salesclerks on the floor.

11. the main part of a stock or commodity exchange or the like, as distinguished from the galleries, platform, etc.

12. the bottom, base, or minimum charged, demanded, or paid.

    The government avoided establishing a price or wage floor.

13. Mining.,  an underlying stratum, as of ore, usually flat.

14. Nautical.

    1. the bottom of a hull.

    2. any of a number of deep, transverse framing members at the bottom of a steel or iron hull, generally interrupted by and joined to any vertical keel or keelsons.

    3. the lowermost member of a frame in a wooden vessel.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or furnish with a floor.

2. to bring down to the floor or ground; knock down.

   He floored his opponent with one blow.

3. to overwhelm; defeat.

4. to confound or puzzle; nonplus.

   I was floored by the problem.

5. Also to push (a foot-operated accelerator pedal) all the way down to the floor of a vehicle, for maximum speed or power.

floor

/ flɔː /

noun

1. Also called: flooring. the inner lower surface of a room

2. a storey of a building

   the second floor

3. a flat bottom surface in or on any structure

   the floor of a lift

   a dance floor

4. the bottom surface of a tunnel, cave, river, sea, etc

5. mining an underlying stratum

6. nautical the bottom, or the lowermost framing members at the bottom, of a vessel

7. that part of a legislative hall in which debate and other business is conducted

8. the right to speak in a legislative or deliberative body (esp in the phrases get, have, or be given the floor )

9. the room in a stock exchange where trading takes place

10. the earth; ground

11. a minimum price charged or paid

    a wage floor

12. to begin dancing on a dance floor

verb

1. to cover with or construct a floor

2. (tr) to knock to the floor or ground

3. informal,  (tr) to disconcert, confound, or defeat

   to be floored by a problem

Other Word Forms

• floorless adjective
• underfloor noun
• unfloor verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of floor¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English flor, Old English flōr; cognate with Old Norse flōr, Middle Low German vlōr, Middle High German vluor ( German Flur )

Word History and Origins

Origin of floor¹

Old English flōr ; related to Old Norse flōrr , Middle Low German vlōr floor, Latin plānus level, Greek planan to cause to wander

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. mop / wipe the floor with, to overwhelm completely; defeat.

   He expected to mop the floor with his opponents.

2. take the floor, to arise to address a meeting.

see ground floor; mop up the floor with; sink through the floor; take the floor; walk the floor.

Example Sentences

To ensure there’s never a speck of dust on the floor, Herbert and his crew use electric leaf blowers each day to clean the massive space.

From Los Angeles Times

Most designers learn their trade as apprentices or at fashion school - but Armani's education took place on the shop floor.

From BBC

He still had student loans when he was sworn into Congress and went viral a few years ago for baby-wearing his infant son on the House floor during a House speaker fight.

From Los Angeles Times

The upcoming exhibition at the Broad will feature 120 pieces of work, including sculpture, photography, painting, drawing and other ephemera, occupying the entire 10,000-square-foot ground floor.

From Los Angeles Times

Inside, a treasure trove awaited: Exclusive merch hung on the walls, bins with posters lined the floors, and bucket hats were stacked on shelves.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• basement 
• canvas 
• carpet 
• deck 
• flooring 
• ground 
• mat 
• rug 
• stage