floor
floor — verb
1. to strike a person with enough force during a fight, sport, or struggle that the
to strike a person with enough force during a fight, sport, or struggle that they fall to the ground
The boxer floored his opponent with a powerful right hook in the third round.
collocation: floor with a punch / hook
A single punch from the taller fighter floored Caio immediately.
Indra accidentally floored another player during the rough basketball game.
The security guard floored the intruder with a swift tackle near the entrance.
Sana was floored by a stray elbow during the crowded concert and scraped her knee.
- knock down
more general; can apply to objects or people
- deck
slang; stronger, more dramatic than 'floor'
- tackle
specific to sports: using arms/body to bring someone down
文法句型
floor + person
用法筆記
The object is always a person or living creature, never an object. Typically describes a single, forceful impact rather than a series of blows.
常見錯誤
2. to shock or astonish someone so deeply that they cannot think clearly or respond
to shock or astonish someone so deeply that they cannot think clearly or respond, usually because the news or event is completely unexpected
The unexpected news completely floored Nora, leaving her speechless for several minutes.
passive-like structure: 'something floors someone'
Christopher was floored by a surprise question during his job interview.
passive: be floored by [question/remark]
The scale of the damage from the earthquake floored the rescue team when they arrived.
Ryan's confession about the missing money absolutely floored his business partner.
The view from the mountain peak floored Tendai, who had never seen anything so beautiful.
- dumbfound
more formal; suggests speechless amazement
- stun
overlapping meaning; can also imply physical shock
- flabbergast
informal and stronger; suggests comedic surprise
文法句型
be floored by [something]
floor + person
用法筆記
Commonly used in the passive voice ('be floored by'). The subject causing the shock can be news, a question, a situation, or even a positive experience such as a beautiful view. More intense than 'surprise' but less formal than 'astonish'.
常見錯誤
floor — noun
1. the flat area of a room or building that people stand and move around on
the flat area of a room or building that people stand and move around on
Dewi sat on the floor and played with her toy car.
collocation: sit on the floor
Please take off your shoes so you do not dirty the floor.
collocation: dirty the floor
The kitchen floor was covered in small drops of water.
A wet floor can be very dangerous if you are not careful.
- ceiling
the top interior surface of a room
用法筆記
Usually preceded by 'the' or a modifier describing location (kitchen floor, bathroom floor).
常見錯誤
2. a level or story of a building, containing rooms on the same height from the gro
a level or story of a building, containing rooms on the same height from the ground
Her office is on the fifth floor of the tower.
preposition: on + [ordinal] floor
The shop has three floors of clothes and shoes.
Mira took the stairs down to the ground floor.
A fire started on the top floor of the hotel last night.
用法筆記
In British English, 'ground floor' is the level at street height, and 'first floor' is one level above. In American English, 'first floor' is at street height.
常見錯誤
3. a room or hall inside a building where people gather to dance, attend meetings,
a room or hall inside a building where people gather to dance, attend meetings, or take part in formal events
Couples moved across the dance floor to the sound of the music.
compound noun: dance floor
The hotel ballroom has a large floor that can hold three hundred guests for dinner.
Questions from the floor are welcome after the speaker finishes her talk.
Dahlia reserved the main floor of the community centre for her art exhibition.
用法筆記
The phrase 'from the floor' or 'questions from the floor' refers to comments or questions from the audience rather than from the stage or podium.
常見錯誤
4. a specially prepared flat surface or marked area designed for indoor sports such
a specially prepared flat surface or marked area designed for indoor sports such as basketball, gymnastics, or volleyball
Kenji dribbled the ball down the basketball floor and scored.
collocation: basketball floor
The gymnast ran across the floor and launched into a backflip.
Workers polished the wooden gym floor before the tournament started.
A volleyball floor needs clear markings for the court lines.
用法筆記
Often combined with the name of the sport (basketball floor, gym floor). Contrasts with 'court', which refers to the whole playing area including markings and boundaries.
5. the members of a parliament, council, or other formal assembly considered as a g
the members of a parliament, council, or other formal assembly considered as a group; also the area in a debating chamber where they sit
The senator asked the floor to vote on the new education bill.
collocation: ask the floor / address the floor
Constanza took questions from the floor after presenting her report to the committee.
fixed phrase: from the floor
The floor rose when the president entered the chamber.
A loud argument broke out on the floor of the parliament building.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (EVENT SPACE): this sense is specific to formal political or parliamentary settings and refers to the members themselves, not just the physical area. The phrase 'from the floor' in this context means from the assembled members rather than from the podium.
6. in basketball, a regular basket made while the game clock is running, rather tha
in basketball, a regular basket made while the game clock is running, rather than a free throw earned when the other team breaks a rule
Folake made six field goals in the first half of the game.
collocation: make a field goal
A field goal from outside the three-point line earns the team three points.
The player attempted a difficult field goal while two defenders blocked him.
His field goal percentage improved after weeks of daily practice.
- basket
more general term for a successful field goal in basketball
- free throw
a shot taken without opposition after a foul
用法筆記
Most common in American English basketball commentary and statistics. Often used in the compound 'field goal percentage' (FG%). Do not confuse with American football, where 'field goal' means a kick through the goalposts.
常見錯誤
7. the formal right or opportunity to express your views during an official meeting
the formal right or opportunity to express your views during an official meeting, debate, or parliamentary session
The chairperson gave Dewi the floor to present her proposal.
give + the floor = grant permission to speak
Every delegate who wants the floor must raise their name card before speaking.
Senator Okafor was given the floor to respond to the opposition's questions.
After a long silence, Takeshi requested the floor to share his committee's findings.
- right to speak
more literal and less idiomatic than 'the floor'
- permission to speak
describes the concept without the idiom
- the microphone
informal equivalent used in less formal meetings
文法句型
have the floor
give + object + the floor
take the floor
用法筆記
Subject is always a person or organization with authority to control a formal meeting. Not used in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
8. a large flat area in a club, bar, party venue, or ballroom where people go to da
a large flat area in a club, bar, party venue, or ballroom where people go to dance
As soon as the music started, couples moved onto the dance floor.
onto the dance floor
The refurbished club now has a glass dance floor with coloured lights underneath.
Chidi stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching his friends.
At the wedding reception, the newlyweds were the first to step onto the dance floor.
The bar's small dance floor was packed with people by midnight.
文法句型
on the dance floor
hit the dance floor
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (OPEN SPACE), which refers to any public space for dancing or discussion. This sense is specifically the dedicated area in entertainment venues.
9. the act of beginning to speak in a formal meeting, debate, or official gathering
the act of beginning to speak in a formal meeting, debate, or official gathering, often after being introduced or called upon
Theo took the floor and outlined the company's new sustainability plan.
take the floor = begin speaking in a meeting
Several experts took the floor one after another during the climate summit.
When Min finally took the floor, she spoke with remarkable confidence.
The opposition leader took the floor to challenge the proposed legislation.
- begin speaking
neutral, non-idiomatic alternative
- address the assembly
more formal, used in parliamentary contexts
文法句型
take the floor
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 7 (RIGHT TO SPEAK): sense 7 focuses on having the right; sense 9 focuses on the action of starting to speak. Distinguish from sense 10 (GIVE THE FLOOR): sense 9 is what the speaker does; sense 10 is what the chairperson does.
10. used by a chairperson or host to invite or allow someone to speak during a confe
used by a chairperson or host to invite or allow someone to speak during a conference, hearing, or similar formal gathering
"You have the floor, Dr. Nakamura," the judge said, turning towards the witness.
you have the floor = invitation to speak
The committee chair gave the floor to the representative from the finance department.
After the opening remarks, the host gave the floor to the keynote speaker.
Salma had the floor for ten minutes, during which she answered questions from the panel.
- call on
less formal, used in classrooms and casual meetings
- yield the floor to
formal parliamentary expression for the current speaker giving permission
文法句型
give + object + the floor
have the floor
用法筆記
The person who gives the floor is always someone with authority over the meeting (chairperson, moderator, judge). 'Have the floor' describes the state of being the current speaker.
11. the lowest solid surface of a natural environment — for instance, the ocean bott
the lowest solid surface of a natural environment — for instance, the ocean bottom, the ground beneath trees in a woodland, or the rocky base inside a cavern
Divers explored the ocean floor near the coral reef in search of rare species.
ocean floor / sea floor
The forest floor was covered with fallen leaves, moss, and tiny mushrooms.
forest floor
The cave floor was slippery and wet from the constant dripping of water.
The valley floor stretched out flat for miles between the two mountain ranges.
Marine biologists study the sea floor to understand underwater ecosystems.
- surface
the top or upper layer of something
文法句型
the + noun + floor
用法筆記
Commonly paired with a preceding noun: 'ocean floor', 'forest floor', 'cave floor', 'valley floor'. Not used for man-made structures (use 'bottom' instead).
12. the lowest acceptable amount, limit, or level for things such as wages, prices,
the lowest acceptable amount, limit, or level for things such as wages, prices, interest rates, or standards, below which they are not allowed to go
The government introduced a price floor for basic food items to protect farmers.
price floor = minimum price
A wage floor sets a minimum hourly rate that employers must pay their workers.
Economists argued about whether a floor on carbon prices would reduce pollution.
The contract includes a floor below which the manager's bonus cannot fall.
The central bank set a floor on interest rates to prevent the market from crashing.
- lower limit
neutral and descriptive, not tied to economics
- minimum
broader, used in many contexts
- base
implies a starting point rather than a restriction
- ceiling
the maximum allowable amount or level
文法句型
floor for + noun
price floor
wage floor
用法筆記
Often paired with a noun: 'price floor', 'wage floor', 'interest rate floor'. The opposite concept is 'ceiling' (maximum level). Common in economics and business contexts.