Adjacent Words

Float definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FLOAT, n.
1. That which swims or is borne on water; as a float of weeds and rushes. But particularly, a body or collection of timber, boards or planks fastened together and conveyed down a stream; a raft. [The latter word is more generally used in the United States.]
2. The cork or quill used on an angling line, to support it and discover the bite of a fish.
3. The act of flowing; flux; flood; the primary sense, but obsolete.
4. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one deep.
5. A wave. [L. fuctus.]
FLOAT, v.i. [L. fluo, to flow.]
1. To be borne or sustained on the surface of a fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up; not to sink; not to be aground. We say, the water is so shallow, the ship will not float.
2. To move or be conveyed on water; to swim. The raft floats down the river.
Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated.
3. To be buoyed up and moved or conveyed in a fluid, as in air.
They stretch their plumes and float upon the wind.
4. To move with a light irregular course.
FLOAT, v.t.
1. To cause to pass by swimming; to cause to be conveyed on water. The tide floated the ship into the harbor.
2. To flood; to inundate; to overflow; to cover with water.
Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment
2: the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public
3: a drink with ice cream floating in it [syn: ice-cream soda, ice-cream float, float]
4: an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade
5: a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco [syn: float, plasterer's float]
6: something that floats on the surface of water
7: an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy [syn: air bladder, swim bladder, float] v
1: be in motion due to some air or water current; "The leaves were blowing in the wind"; "the boat drifted on the lake"; "The sailboat was adrift on the open sea"; "the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore" [syn: float, drift, be adrift, blow]
2: be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom [syn: float, swim] [ant: go down, go under, settle, sink]
3: set afloat; "He floated the logs down the river"; "The boy floated his toy boat on the pond"
4: circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with; "The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform"
5: move lightly, as if suspended; "The dancer floated across the stage"
6: put into the water; "float a ship"
7: make the surface of level or smooth; "float the plaster"
8: allow (currencies) to fluctuate; "The government floated the ruble for a few months"
9: convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation; "float data"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English flote boat, float, from Old English flota ship; akin to Old High German fl?z raft, stream, Old English fl?otan to float — more at fleet Date: before 12th century 1. an act or instance of floating 2. something that floats in or on the surface of a fluid: as a. a device (as a cork) buoying up the baited end of a fishing line b. a floating platform anchored near a shoreline for use by swimmers or boats c. a hollow ball that floats at the end of a lever in a cistern, tank, or boiler and regulates the liquid level d. a sac containing air or gas and buoying up the body of a plant or animal e. a watertight structure giving an airplane buoyancy on water 3. a tool or apparatus for smoothing a surface (as of wet concrete) 4. a government grant of a fixed amount of land not yet located by survey out of a larger specific tract 5. a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade; also the vehicle and exhibit together 6. a. an amount of money represented by checks outstanding and in process of collection b. the time between a transaction (as the writing of a check or a purchase on credit) and the actual withdrawal of funds to cover it c. the volume of a company's shares available for active trading in the auction market 7. a soft drink with ice cream floating in it II. verb Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to rest on the surface of or be suspended in a fluid 2. a. to drift on or through or as if on or through a fluid <yellow leaves floated down> b. wander 3. of a currency to find a level in the international exchange market in response to the law of supply and demand and without any restrictive effect of artificial support or control transitive verb 1. a. to cause to float in or on the surface of a fluid b. to cause to float as if in a fluid 2. flood <float a cranberry bog> 3. to smooth (as plaster or cement) with a float 4. a. to put forth (as a proposal) for acceptance b. to place (an issue of securities) on the market c. to obtain money for the establishment or development of (an enterprise) by issuing and selling securities d. negotiate <float a loan>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. & tr. a rest or move or cause (a buoyant object) to rest or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking. b get afloat or set (a stranded ship) afloat. 2 intr. move with a liquid or current of air; drift (the clouds floated high up). 3 intr. colloq. a move in a leisurely or casual way (floated about humming quietly). b (often foll. by before) hover before the eye or mind (the prospect of lunch floated before them). 4 intr. (often foll. by in) move or be suspended freely in a liquid or a gas. 5 tr. a bring (a company, scheme, etc.) into being; launch. b offer (stock, shares, etc.) on the stock market. 6 Commerce a intr. (of currency) be allowed to have a fluctuating exchange rate. b tr. cause (currency) to float. c intr. (of an acceptance) be in circulation. 7 tr. (of water etc.) support; bear along (a buoyant object). 8 intr. & tr. circulate or cause (a rumour or idea) to circulate. 9 tr. waft (a buoyant object) through the air. 10 tr. archaic cover with liquid; inundate. --n. 1 a thing that floats, esp.: a a raft. b a cork or quill on a fishing-line as an indicator of a fish biting. c a cork supporting the edge of a fishing-net. d the hollow or inflated part or organ supporting a fish etc. in the water; an air bladder. e a hollow structure fixed underneath an aircraft enabling it to float on water. f a floating device on the surface of water, petrol, etc., controlling the flow. 2 a small vehicle or cart, esp. one powered by electricity (milk float). 3 a platform mounted on a lorry and carrying a display in a procession etc. 4 a a sum of money used at the beginning of a period of selling in a shop, a f{ecirc}te, etc. to provide change. b a small sum of money for minor expenditure; petty cash. 5 Theatr. (in sing. or pl.) footlights. 6 a tool used for smoothing plaster. Phrases and idioms: float-board one of the boards of a water-wheel or paddle-wheel. float glass a kind of glass made by drawing the molten glass continuously on to a surface of molten metal for hardening. float process the process used to make float glass. float-stone a light, porous stone that floats. Derivatives: floatable adj. floatability n. Etymology: OE flot, flotian float, OE flota ship, ON flota, floti rel. to FLEET(5): in ME infl. by OF floter

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Float Float (fl[=o]t), n.[OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS. flota ship, fr. fle['o]tan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet, G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta. [root] 84. See Fleet, v. i., and cf. Flotilla, Flotsam, Plover.] 1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the surface, or mark the place of, something. Specifically: (a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft. (b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler. (c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and indicate the bite of a fish. (d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver. This reform bill . . . had been used as a float by the conservative ministry. --J. P. Peters. 2. A float board. See Float board (below). 3. (Tempering) A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die. --Knight. 4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] --Bacon. 5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. [Obs.] --Mortimer. 6. (Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed. 7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner. --Knight. 8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe. 9. A coal cart. [Eng.] --Simmonds. 10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n. Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; -- a vane. Float case (Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship. Float copper or gold (Mining), fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost. Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop. --Raymond. Float stone (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface. Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1 (b) .

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Float Float (fl[=o]t), n.[OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS. flota ship, fr. fle['o]tan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet, G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta. [root] 84. See Fleet, v. i., and cf. Flotilla, Flotsam, Plover.] 1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the surface, or mark the place of, something. Specifically: (a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft. (b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler. (c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and indicate the bite of a fish. (d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver. This reform bill . . . had been used as a float by the conservative ministry. --J. P. Peters. 2. A float board. See Float board (below). 3. (Tempering) A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die. --Knight. 4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] --Bacon. 5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. [Obs.] --Mortimer. 6. (Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed. 7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner. --Knight. 8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe. 9. A coal cart. [Eng.] --Simmonds. 10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n. Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; -- a vane. Float case (Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship. Float copper or gold (Mining), fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost. Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop. --Raymond. Float stone (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface. Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1 (b) .

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Float Float, v. t. 1. To cause to float; to cause to rest or move on the surface of a fluid; as, the tide floated the ship into the harbor. Had floated that bell on the Inchcape rock. --Southey. 2. To flood; to overflow; to cover with water. Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands. --Dryden. 3. (Plastering) To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the plastering is kept wet. 4. To support and sustain the credit of, as a commercial scheme or a joint-stock company, so as to enable it to go into, or continue in, operation.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Float Float, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floated; p. pr. & vb. n. Floating.] [OE. flotien, flotten, AS. flotian to float, swim, fr. fle['o]tan. See Float, n.] 1. To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up. The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground. --Milton. Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated. --Dryden. 2. To move quietly or gently on the water, as a raft; to drift along; to move or glide without effort or impulse on the surface of a fluid, or through the air. They stretch their broad plumes and float upon the wind. --Pope. There seems a floating whisper on the hills. --Byron.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(floats, floating, floated) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. If something or someone is floating in a liquid, they are in the liquid, on or just below the surface, and are being supported by it. You can also float something on a liquid. They noticed fifty and twenty dollar bills floating in the water. ...barges floating quietly by the grassy river banks... They'll spend some time floating boats in the creek. VERB: V in n, V prep/adv, V n, also V n prep/adv 2. Something that floats lies on or just below the surface of a liquid when it is put in it and does not sink. Empty things float. ? sink VERB: V 3. A float is a light object that is used to help someone or something float. N-COUNT 4. A float is a small object attached to a fishing line which floats on the water and moves when a fish has been caught. N-COUNT 5. Something that floats in or through the air hangs in it or moves slowly and gently through it. The white cloud of smoke floated away. VERB: V prep/adv 6. If you float a project, plan, or idea, you suggest it for others to think about. The French had floated the idea of placing the diplomatic work in the hands of the UN. VERB: V n 7. If a company director floats their company, they start to sell shares in it to the public. (BUSINESS) He floated his firm on the stock market... The advisers are delaying the key decision on whether to float 60 per cent or 100 per cent of the shares. VERB: V n on n, V n 8. If a government floats its country's currency or allows it to float, it allows the currency's value to change freely in relation to other currencies. (BUSINESS) A decision by the Finns to float their currency sent a shudder through the foreign exchanges... 59 per cent of people believed the pound should be allowed to float freely. VERB: V n, V 9. A float is a truck on which displays and people in special costumes are carried in a festival procession. N-COUNT see also milk float 10. A float is a small amount of coins and notes of low value that someone has before they start selling things so that they are able to give customers change if necessary. (BRIT) N-SING

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. Swim, waft, be buoyed up. II. v. a. Buoy up, bear up, keep afloat, bear on the surface. III. n. 1. Raft, floating mass. 2. Buoy. 3. Float-board.

Moby Thesaurus

Carling float, arrange, ascend, aspire, balsa, balsa raft, barge, bathe, bear up, become airborne, boat, bob, boom, brandish, bring off, bring up, broach, bundle, bundle off, buoy, buoy up, bus, carry off, cart, christen, claw skyward, coach, consummate, cork, dart, deluge, dip, dive, dray, drift, drown, duck, dunk, effect, establish, ferry, flap, flaunt, float high, flood, flourish, flow on, flutter, fly, fly aloft, foot, found, gain altitude, get, get going, get moving, ghost, give a start, glide, go in swimming, go in wading, go public, hang, haul, hold up, hover, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, institute, introduce, inundate, issue, issue stock, kick off, kite, launch, leave the ground, levitate, life buoy, life preserver, life raft, lift up, lighter, negotiate, organize, plane, platform, plow the deep, poise, pontoon, pour on, pull off, put in motion, raft, rain, raise, ride, ride high, ride the sea, ring in, rise, run, sail, scud, send, send forth, send off, set afloat, set agoing, set going, set in motion, set on foot, set up, shake, ship, shoot, skim, skinny-dip, sled, sledge, slip, sluice, soar, spire, start, start going, start off, start up, submerge, surfboard, sustain, swamp, swim, swing, take off, transact, tread water, truck, turn on, undulate, upbear, uphold, uplift, upraise, usher in, van, wade, waft, wag, wagon, walk the waters, wash, wave, wheelbarrow, whelm, wield, wigwag, zoom