FLOAT Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

float

[ floht ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to rest or remain on the surface of a liquid; be buoyant:
The hollow ball floated.
to move gently on the surface of a liquid; drift along:
The canoe floated downstream.
to rest or move in a liquid, the air, etc.:
a balloon floating on high.
Synonyms: , , ,
to move lightly and gracefully:
She floated down the stairs.
to move or hover before the eyes or in the mind:
Romantic visions floated before his eyes.
to pass from one person to another:
A nasty rumor about his firm is floating around town.
to be free from attachment or involvement.
to move or drift about:
to float from place to place.
to vacillate (often followed by between ).
to be launched, as a company, scheme, etc.
(of a currency) to be allowed to fluctuate freely in the foreign-exchange market instead of being exchanged at a fixed rate.
(of an interest rate) to change periodically according to money-market conditions.
Commerce. to be in circulation, as an acceptance; be awaiting maturity.

verb (used with object)

to cause to float.
to cover with water or other liquid; flood; irrigate.
to launch (a company, scheme, etc.); set going.
to issue on the stock market in order to raise money, as stocks or bonds.
to let (a currency or interest rate) fluctuate in the foreign-exchange or money market.
to make smooth with a float, as the surface of plaster.
Theater. to lay down (a flat), usually by bracing the bottom edge of the frame with the foot and allowing the rest to fall slowly to the floor.

noun

something that floats, as a raft.
something for buoying up.
an inflated bag to sustain a person in water; life preserver.
(in certain types of tanks, cisterns, etc.) a device, as a hollow ball, that through its buoyancy automatically regulates the level, supply, or outlet of a liquid.
Nautical. a floating platform attached to a wharf, bank, or the like, and used as a landing.
Aeronautics. a hollow, boatlike structure under the wing or fuselage of a seaplane or flying boat, keeping it afloat in water.
Angling. a piece of cork or other material for supporting a baited line in the water and indicating by its movements when a fish bites.
Zoology. an inflated organ that supports an animal in the water.
a vehicle bearing a display, usually an elaborate tableau, in a parade or procession:
Each class prepared a float for the football pageant.
a glass of fruit juice or soft drink with one or more scoops of ice cream floating in it:
a root-beer float.
(especially in the northeastern United States) a milkshake with one or more scoops of ice cream floating in it.
paddle ¹( def 6 ).
Banking. uncollected checks and commercial paper in process of transfer from bank to bank.
the total amount of any cost-of-living or other variable adjustments added to an employee's pay or a retiree's benefits:
a float of $6 per month on top of Social Security benefits.
an act or instance of floating, as a currency on the foreign-exchange market.
Building Trades.
1. a flat tool for spreading and smoothing plaster or stucco.
2. a tool for polishing marble.
a single-cut file of moderate smoothness.
a loose-fitting, sometimes very full dress without a waistline.
(in weaving and knitting) a length of yarn that extends over several rows or stitches without being interworked.
British. a sum of money used by a storekeeper to provide change for the till at the start of a day's business.
British. a small vehicle, usually battery powered, used to make deliveries, as of milk.
a low-bodied dray for transporting heavy goods.
Geology, Mining.
1. loose fragments of rock, ore, etc., that have been moved from one place to another by the action of wind, water, etc.
2. ore that has been washed downhill from an orebody and is found lying on the surface of the ground.
3. any mineral in suspension in water.
Usually floats. British Theater. footlight ( def 1 ).

float

/ �ڱ�əʊ�� /

verb

to rest or cause to rest on the surface of a fluid or in a fluid or space without sinking; be buoyant or cause to exhibit buoyancy
to float a ship
oil floats on water
to move or cause to move buoyantly, lightly, or freely across a surface or through air, water, etc; drift
fog floated across the road
to move about aimlessly, esp in the mind
thoughts floated before him
to suspend or be suspended without falling; hang
lights floated above them
tr
1. to launch or establish (a commercial enterprise, etc)
2. to offer for sale (stock or bond issues, etc) on the stock market
tr finance to allow (a currency) to fluctuate against other currencies in accordance with market forces
tr to flood, inundate, or irrigate (land), either artificially or naturally
tr to spread, smooth, or level (a surface of plaster, rendering, etc)

noun

something that floats
angling an indicator attached to a baited line that sits on the water and moves when a fish bites
a small hand tool with a rectangular blade used for floating plaster, etc
any buoyant object, such as a platform or inflated tube, used offshore by swimmers or, when moored alongside a pier, as a dock by vessels
Also calledpaddle a blade of a paddle wheel
a buoyant garment or device to aid a person in staying afloat
a hollow watertight structure fitted to the underside of an aircraft to allow it to land on water
another name for air bladder
an exhibit carried in a parade, esp a religious parade
a motor vehicle used to carry a tableau or exhibit in a parade, esp a civic parade
a small delivery vehicle, esp one powered by batteries
a milk float
a vehicle for transporting horses
banking the total value of uncollected cheques and other commercial papers
a sum to be applied to minor expenses; petty cash
a sum of money used by shopkeepers to provide change at the start of the day's business, this sum being subtracted from the total at the end of the day when calculating the day's takings
the hollow floating ball of a ballcock
engineering a hollow cylindrical structure in a carburettor that actuates the fuel valve
a carbonated soft drink with a scoop of ice cream in it
(in textiles) a single thread brought to or above the surface of a woven fabric, esp to form a pattern
forestry a measure of timber equal to eighteen loads

float

/ �ڱ�ō�� /

An air-filled sac in certain aquatic organisms, such as kelp, that helps maintain buoyancy.
Also called air bladder air vesicle

Discover More

Derived Forms

ˈ�ڱ��ǲ��ٲ��, adjective
ˌ�ڱ��ǲ��ٲ�ˈ��ٲ�, noun

Discover More

Other �y��vlog Forms

�ǳܳ��Э��ǲ�� verb (used with object)
��·�ڱ��ǲ�� verb

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of float¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English floten, Old English flotian; cognate with Old Norse flota, Middle Dutch vloten; akin to Old English �ڱ�ŧ�ǳٲ�� “to move swiftly” ( fleet ² )

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of float¹

Old English flotian ; related to Old Norse flota , Old Saxon �ڱ��ǳ�ō�� ; see fleet ²

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland during his first term - and his desire to own the island has only grown with time.

From

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of a third presidential term, an idea that is unconstitutional under the 22nd Amendment.

From

The White House has not said how high the tariffs could go, although various possible rates have been floated by analysts.

From

Plaid Cymru has called for a review of university funding and floated the possibility of changes to maintenance grants so that there was more support for student studying in Wales.

From

I know that his former adviser, the influencer Steve Bannon, has been floating that for a while, largely based upon some very fringe ideas from an activist lawyer named Mike Davis.

From

Related �y��vlogs

Browse