float

[[t]floʊt[/t]]

v. i.

1) to rest or remain on the surface of a liquid; be buoyant

2) to move gently on the surface of a liquid; drift along:

The canoe floated downstream[/ex]

3) to rest or move in a liquid, the air, etc.:

a balloon floating on high[/ex]

4) to move lightly and gracefully:

She floated down the stairs[/ex]

5) to move or hover before the eyes or in the mind

6) to pass from one person to another

7) to be free from attachment or involvement

8) to move or drift about, esp. freely or aimlessly

9) ban bus (of a currency) to be allowed to fluctuate freely in the foreign-exchange market instead of being exchanged at a fixed rate

10) to cause to float

11) to cover with water or other liquid; flood; irrigate

12) to launch (a company, scheme, etc.); set going

13) bus to issue (stocks, bonds, etc.) on the stock market in order to raise money

14) ban bus to let (a currency) fluctuate in the foreign-exchange market

15) to present for consideration, as an idea

16) to make smooth with a float, as the surface of plaster

17) something that floats, as a raft

18) something for buoying up

19) an inflated bag to sustain a person in water; life preserver

20) bui (in a tank, cistern, etc.) a device, as a hollow ball, that through its buoyancy automatically regulates the level, supply, or outlet of a liquid

21) naut. navig. a floating platform attached to a wharf, bank, etc., and used as a landing

22) aer. a hollow, boatlike structure under the wing or fuselage of a seaplane or flying boat that keeps it afloat in water

23) spo a piece of cork or other material supporting a baited fishing line in the water

24) zool. an inflated organ that supports an animal in the water

25) a vehicle bearing a display, usu. an elaborate tableau, in a parade or procession

26) cvb coo a drink with ice cream floating in it

27) bus uncollected checks and commercial paper in process of transfer from bank to bank

28) bus a sum of money added to a salary, pension, etc., as to cover expenses

29) an act or instance of floating

30) bui a flat tool for spreading and smoothing plaster or stucco

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Etymology: bef. 1000; ME floten, OE flotian; c. ON flota; akin to OE flēotan to fleet II float′a•ble, adj. float`a•bil′i•ty, n. float′y, adj. float•i•er, float•i•est.