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1. Dictionary

   float

   /flōt/

   verb

   • 1. rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid without sinking: "she relaxed, floating gently in the water" Similar stay afloatstay on the surfacebe buoyantbe buoyed upOpposite sink
   • ▪ cause (a buoyant object) to rest or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking: "trees were felled and floated downstream"
   • ▪ be suspended freely in a liquid or gas: "fragments of chipped cartilage floated in the joint"
   • 2. move or hover slowly and lightly in a liquid or the air; drift: "clouds floated across a brilliant blue sky" Similar hoverlevitatebe suspendedhangdefy gravitydriftglidesailslipslidewaftflowstreammovetravelbe carriedOpposite rush
   • ▪ (of a rumor, idea, etc.) circulate: "the notion was floating around Capitol Hill"
   • ▪ (in sports) make (the ball) travel lightly and effortlessly through the air: "he floated the kick into the net"
   • ▪ (of a sight or idea) come before the eyes or mind: "the advice his father had given him floated into his mind"
   • 3. put forward (an idea) as a suggestion or test of reactions. Similar suggestput forwardcome up withsubmitraisemootproposeadvanceofferprofferpositpresenttabletest the popularity oftableinformal:run something up the flagpole (to see who salutes)Opposite withdraw
   • ▪ offer the shares of (a company) for sale on the stock market for the first time. Similar launchget goingget off the groundoffersellintroduceestablishset upinstitutepromoteOpposite wind upbuy back
   • 4. (of a currency) fluctuate freely in value in accordance with supply and demand in the financial markets: "a policy of letting the pound float"
   • ▪ allow (a currency) to fluctuate in value.

   noun

   • 1. a thing that is buoyant in water.
   • ▪ a small object attached to a fishing line to indicate by moving when a fish bites.
   • ▪ a cork or buoy supporting the edge of a fishing net.
   • ▪ a hollow or inflated organ enabling an organism (such as the Portuguese man-of-war) to float in the water.
   • ▪ a hollow structure fixed underneath an aircraft enabling it to take off and land on water.
   • ▪ a device floating on the surface of a liquid that forms part of a valve apparatus controlling flow in and out of the enclosing container, e.g., in a toilet tank or a carburetor.
   • ▪ a platform mounted on a truck and carrying a display in a parade: "a carnival float"
   • 2. a hand tool with a rectangular blade used for smoothing plaster or concrete.
   • 3. a soft drink with a scoop of ice cream floating in it: North American "root-beer floats"
   • 4. (in critical path analysis) the period of time by which the duration of an activity may be extended without affecting the overall time for the process.

   Word Origin Old Englishflotian (verb), of Germanic origin and related to fleet4, reinforced in Middle English by Old French floter, also from Germanic.

   Scrabble Points: 8

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2. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishFLOAT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   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.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › floatFloat Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › float

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   1. : an act or instance of floating. 2. : something that floats in or on the surface of a fluid: such as. a. : a device (such 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.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishFLOAT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   to move smoothly and attractively: She sort of floats around, like a ballet dancer. [ I usually + adv/prep ] to move or act without purpose: float around/about Since he lost his job, he's just floated around/about doing nothing. More examples. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. float verb (SUGGEST) [ T ]

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › floatFLOAT Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › float

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   Float definition: to rest or remain on the surface of a liquid; be buoyant. See examples of FLOAT used in a sentence.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › floatFloat - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › 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

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishfloat verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   [transitive] float something to suggest an idea or a plan for other people to consider. They floated the idea of increased taxes on alcohol.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › floatFloat - definition of float by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › float

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   1. a. To remain suspended within or on the surface of a fluid without sinking. b. To be suspended in or move through space as if supported by a liquid. 2. To move from place to place, especially at random. 3. To move easily or lightly: "Miss Golightly ... floated round in their arms light as a scarf" (Truman Capote). 4.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishFLOAT | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   FLOAT definition: 1. to stay on the surface of a liquid instead of sinking, or to make something do this: 2. to stay…. Learn more.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_englishfloat verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english

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    float. verb. /floʊt/. Verb Forms. on water/in air. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move slowly on water or in the air synonym drift A group of swans floated by. The smell of freshly baked bread floated up from the kitchen. Beautiful music came floating out of the window.

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › floatfloat | meaning of float in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › float

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    float meaning, definition, what is float: to stay or move on the surface of a liqu...: Learn more.