طفا

Root entry · 11 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns the concept of rising to the surface, appearing, or becoming prominent, often in relation to liquids or elevated positions. It extends to meanings of lightness, superficiality, and can be applied to natural phenomena, animals, and even abstract concepts.

Derived headwords

طَفَا يطفُو طَفْوًا وطُفُوًّاverb

1.
to float, rise to the surfaceboth
To appear and rise above something, without sinking. This is the primary meaning, often used for objects on water.
2.
to stand out, be prominentclassical
To be noticeable or elevated above others, like a prominent feature or a distinguished person.
3.
to move lightly, run swiftlyclassical
To move quickly and lightly over the ground, especially when running.

طَافِيَةadjective

1.
floating, on the surfaceboth
Describing something that is floating or has risen to the surface, especially on water.
2.
prominent, outstandingclassical
Standing out from its peers, particularly used for a grape that is larger or more prominent than others.

كأن عينه عنبة طافية — as if his eye were a floating grape — <English translation>

الطَّافِيname

1.
name of a horseclassical
The name of a specific horse belonging to Amr ibn Shayban.

الطَّفَاوَةnoun

1.
scum, froth, surface impuritiesboth
The light, frothy, or fatty residue that rises to the surface of liquids, such as from cooking pots.
2.
halo (around sun/moon)classical
The luminous circle or halo seen around the sun or moon.
3.
a portion of springclassical
A small amount or portion of something, specifically mentioned in the context of a spring season.
4.
a tribeclassical
A name for a tribe from the Qays 'Aylan confederation.

الطَّفَاوِيadjective

1.
related to the haloclassical
Derived from 'al-tafāwah', referring to the halo or circle around the sun or moon.

الطُّفْوَةnoun

1.
thin plantclassical
A delicate or thin type of plant.

الطُّفْيَةnoun

1.
date palm frondclassical
A frond or leaf of the date palm tree.
2.
type of snakeclassical
A specific type of snake, described as soft, malicious, and short-tailed, often identified by two black stripes.

طُفَيّnoun

1.
date palm frondsclassical
The plural form of 'al-tufyah', referring to date palm fronds.

ذو الطُّفَيَّتَيْنname

1.
a venomous snakeclassical
A name given to a snake characterized by two black stripes on its back, resembling two palm fronds.

طَفْوnoun

1.
floating, surfacingboth
The act or state of floating or rising to the surface.

طُفُوّnoun

1.
floating, surfacingboth
The act or state of floating or rising to the surface; a variant masdar of 'tafa'.

Parallel reading

طفا الشيء فوق الماء يطفو طفوا وطفوا: ظهر وعلا ولم يرسب.

A thing floated on the water, it floats, with 'tafwan' and 'tufuwwan': it appeared and rose and did not sink.

كأن عينه عنبة طافية

as if his eye were a floating grape

الطافية من العنب الحبة التي قد خرجت عن حد نبتة أخواتها من الحب فنتأت وظهرت وارتفعت

The 'tafiyah' of grapes is the berry that has emerged beyond the limit of its sister berries, becoming prominent and elevated.

أراد به الحبة الطافية على وجه الماء، شبه عينه بها

He meant by it the berry floating on the surface of the water, likening his eye to it.

ومن الطافي من السمك لأنه يعلو ويظهر على رأس الماء.

And from the fish that float because they rise and appear on the surface of the water.

وطفا الثور الوحشي على الأكم والرمال

And the wild bull moved lightly over the hills and sands.

ومر الظبي يطفو إذا خف على الأرض واشتد عدوه.

And the gazelle passed, moving lightly when it was swift on the ground and its running was intense.

والطفاوة: ما طفا من زبد القدر ودسمها.

And 'al-tafāwah': what floats from the scum of the pot and its grease.

والطفاوة، بالضم: دارة الشمس والقمر.

And 'al-tuafāwah', with dammah: the halo of the sun and the moon.

الطفاوة الدارة التي حول القمر، وكذلك طفاوة القدر ما طفا عليها من الدسم

'Al-tafāwah' is the halo around the moon, and likewise the 'tafāwah' of the pot is what floats on it of grease.

والطفوة: النبت الرقيق.

And 'al-tufwah': the delicate plant.

ويقال: أصبنا طفاوة من الربيع أي شيئا منه.

And it is said: We obtained 'tafāwah' from the spring, meaning a portion of it.

والطفية: خوصة المقل، والجمع طفي

And 'al-tufiyyah': a frond of the date palm, and the plural is 'tufiyy'.

وأقطاع طفي قد عفت في المعاقل

And patches of palm fronds have become effaced in the mountain passes.

وذو الطفيتين: حية لها خطان أسودان يشبهان بالخوصتين

And 'Dhu al-Tufayyatayn': a snake that has two black lines resembling two fronds.

اقتلوا ذا الطفيتين والأبتر

Kill Dhu al-Tufayyatayn and the short-tailed one.

أراه شبه الخطين اللذين على ظهره بخوصتين من خوص المقل، وهما الطفيتان

I think he likened the two lines on its back to two fronds of the date palm, and they are the two 'tufiyyatayn'.

وهم يذلونها من بعد عزتها، كما تذل الطفى من رقية الراقي

And they humiliate it after its glory, just as the 'tufā' are humiliated by the incantation of the charmer.

عبد إذا ما رسب القوم طفا

A slave, when the people sank, he floated.

طفا أي نزا بجهله إذا ترزن الحليم

'Tafa' means he jumped up in his ignorance when the wise man became serious.