float

/flˈoʊt/ · 1 syllable

Meaning

verb

be in motion due to some air or water current
“The leaves were blowing in the wind”
be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom
set afloat
“He floated the logs down the river”
circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with
“The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform”
move lightly, as if suspended
“The dancer floated across the stage”
put into the water
“float a ship”
make the surface of level or smooth
“float the plaster”
allow (currencies) to fluctuate
“The government floated the ruble for a few months”
convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation
“float data”

noun

the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment
the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public
a drink with ice cream floating in it
an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade
a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco
something that floats on the surface of water
an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy

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