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float

Float is what you do when you're lying on the water. Hopefully you know how to swim, so you can float suspended on the surface of the water, rather than sinking straight to the bottom.

We typically think of the verb float as something you do on the surface of an ocean or pool, but it's possible to float in mid-air too. You just need to be attached to a parachute so you don't come crashing down to the ground. You can also "float on air" in a more figurative sense. For example, if the person you're in love with suddenly gives you flowers, you could float around for hours feeling like your feet aren't touching the ground.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: float

1
 vn
be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom
something that floats on the surface of water
2
 nv
a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco
make the surface of level or smooth
3
 v
allow (currencies) to fluctuate
4
 v
convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation
5
 v
circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with
6
 n
the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public
7
 n
a drink with ice cream floating in it
8
 n
an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade
9
 n
the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: float
1

v be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom

Synonyms:
swim
Antonyms:
go down, go under, settle, sink
go under, "The raft sank and its occupants drowned"
sink
cause to sink
show more antonyms...
Types:
buoy
float on the surface of water
Type of:
go, locomote, move, travel
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

v be in motion due to some air or water current

Synonyms:
be adrift, blow, drift
drift
cause to be carried by a current
Types:
waft
be driven or carried along, as by the air
tide
be carried with the tide
stream
to extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind
Type of:
go, locomote, move, travel
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

v move lightly, as if suspended

“The dancer floated across the stage”
Synonyms
be adrift, blow, drift
be in motion due to some air or water current
swim
be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom
Types:
ride
be sustained or supported or borne
Type of:
go, locomote, move, travel
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

v set afloat

“He floated the logs down the river”
“The boy floated his toy boat on the pond”
Synonyms
swim
be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom
Types:
tide
cause to float with the tide
drift
cause to be carried by a current
refloat
set afloat again
Type of:
transport
move something or somebody around; usually over long distances

v put into the water

“float a ship”
Type of:
launch
propel with force

n something that floats on the surface of water

Types:
show 10 types...
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bob, bobber, bobfloat, cork
a small float usually made of cork; attached to a fishing line
chip
a triangular wooden float attached to the end of a log line
flotation device, life preserver, preserver
rescue equipment consisting of a buoyant belt or jacket to keep a person from drowning
pontoon
a float supporting a seaplane
raft
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
Kon Tiki, balsa raft
a light raft made of balsa
life belt, life buoy, life ring, lifesaver
a life preserver in the form of a ring of buoyant material
cork jacket, life jacket, life vest
life preserver consisting of a sleeveless jacket of buoyant or inflatable design
Carling float, life raft
a raft to use if a ship must be abandoned in an emergency
water wings
a life preserver consisting of a connected pair of inflatable bags that fit under a person's arms and provide buoyancy; used by children learning to swim
Type of:
artefact, artifact
a man-made object taken as a whole

n an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy

Synonyms:
air bladder, swim bladder
Type of:
sac
a structure resembling a bag in an animal
2

n a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco

Synonyms:
plasterer's float
Type of:
hand tool
a tool used with workers' hands

v make the surface of level or smooth

“float the plaster”
Type of:
smooth, smoothen
make smooth or smoother, as if by rubbing
3

v allow (currencies) to fluctuate

“The government floated the ruble for a few months”
Type of:
value
fix or determine the value of; assign a value to
4

v convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation

“float data”
Type of:
change over, convert
change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
5

v circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with

“The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform”
Type of:
essay, examine, prove, test, try, try out
put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
6

n the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public

Type of:
stock
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest (equity)
7

n a drink with ice cream floating in it

Synonyms:
ice-cream float, ice-cream soda
Types:
root beer float
an ice-cream soda made with ice cream floating in root beer
Type of:
drink
a single serving of a beverage
8

n an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade

Type of:
display, presentation
a visual representation of something
9

n the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment

Type of:
interval, time interval
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
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