v.
- rest or cause to rest on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
▸be suspended freely in a liquid or gas.
- move slowly or hover in a liquid or the air.
▸move in a casual or leisurely way.
▸(in sport) make (the ball) travel lightly and effortlessly through the air.
- put forward (an idea) as a suggestion or test of reactions.
- offer the shares of (a company) for sale on the stock market for the first time.
- (of a currency) fluctuate freely in value.
n.
- any hollow or lightweight object or device used to achieve buoyancy in water.
▸a small floating object attached to a fishing line to signal the bite of a fish.
▸a floating device which forms part of a valve apparatus controlling a flow of water.
- Brit. a small vehicle or cart powered by electricity.
▸a platform mounted on a truck and carrying a display in a procession.
- Brit. a sum of money used for change at the beginning of a period of selling in a shop, stall, etc.
- chiefly N. Amer. a soft drink with a scoop of ice cream floating in it.
- a hand tool with a rectangular blade used for smoothing plaster.
Phrase
- float someone's boat
informal appeal to or excite someone.
Derivative
Etymology
OE flotian, of Gmc origin and rel. to fleet5.