English Explanatory Dictionary

float

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object).
  2. To be supported by a liquid of greater density, such that part (of the object or substance) remains above the surface.
  3. To cause something to be suspended in a fluid of greater density.
  4. To be capable of floating.
  5. To move in a particular direction with the liquid in which one is floating.
  6. To drift or wander aimlessly.
  7. To drift gently through the air.
  8. To cause to drift gently through the air, to waft.
  9. To move in a fluid manner.
  10. To circulate.
  11. To remain airborne, without touching down, for an excessive length of time during landing, due to excessive airspeed during the landing flare.
  12. Of an idea or scheme, to be viable.
noun
  1. A buoyant device used to support something in water or another liquid.
  2. A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft.
  3. A float board.
  4. A tool similar to a rasp, used in various trades.
  5. A sort of trowel used for finishing concrete surfaces or smoothing plaster.
  6. An elaborately decorated trailer or vehicle, intended for display in a parade or pageant.
  7. A floating toy made of foam, used in swimming pools.
  8. A small vehicle used for local deliveries, especially in the term milk float.
  9. Funds committed to be paid but not yet paid.
  10. An offering of shares in a company (or units in a trust) to members of the public, normally followed by a listing on a stock exchange.
  11. The total amount of checks/cheques or other drafts written against a bank account but not yet cleared and charged against the account.
  12. Premiums taken in but not yet paid out.

Pronunciation

/fləʊt/ /floʊt/ en-us-float.ogg EN-AU ck1 float.ogg

Word forms

float floats floating floated

Etymology

From Middle English floten, from Old English flotian (“to float”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotōn, from Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd-, *plew- (“to float, swim, fly”). Compare flow, fleet.

Synonyms

ride swim stream initial public offering

Derived words

afloat armfloat defloat firefloat floatability floatable floatant float around float at floatboard floatel floater floatie floatless float like a butterfly floatline floatmaker floatovoltaic floatovoltaics floatsome float someone's boat floatstick floatstone float with the stream floaty flotate flotation flotel flutter free-floating my back teeth are floating my teeth are floating nonfloated outfloat overfloat refloat upfloat whatever floats your boat Carley float clean float coke float dead man's float dirty float float glass float-on float-off floatplane float switch float tank float tube float-zone silicon free float grout float hard float ice cream float ice-float information float managed float peg float root beer float soft float

Translations

Finnish: kellua Finnish: keijua Finnish: leijua Persian: شناوری Spanish: flotar Tooro: -seereera
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on F Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary