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Float   /floʊt/   Listen
verb
Float  v. t.  
1.
To cause to float; to cause to rest or move on the surface of a fluid; as, the tide floated the ship into the harbor. "Had floated that bell on the Inchcape rock."
2.
To flood; to overflow; to cover with water. "Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands."
3.
(Plastering) To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the plastering is kept wet.
4.
To support and sustain the credit of, as a commercial scheme or a joint-stock company, so as to enable it to go into, or continue in, operation.


Float  v. i.  (past & past part. floated; pres. part. floating)  
1.
To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up. "The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground." "Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated."
2.
To move quietly or gently on the water, as a raft; to drift along; to move or glide without effort or impulse on the surface of a fluid, or through the air. "They stretch their broad plumes and float upon the wind." "There seems a floating whisper on the hills."


noun
Float  n.  
1.
Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the liquid surface, or mark the place of, something. Specifically:
(a)
A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft.
(b)
The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler.
(c)
The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and indicate the bite of a fish.
(d)
Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver.
(e)
The hollow, metallic ball which floats on the fuel in the fuel tank of a vehicle to indicate the level of the fuel surface, and thus the amount of fuel remaining.
(f)
A hollow elongated tank mounted under the wing of a seaplane which causes the plane to float when resting on the surface of the water. "This reform bill... had been used as a float by the conservative ministry."
2.
A float board. See Float board (below).
3.
(Tempering) A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die.
4.
The act of flowing; flux; flow. (Obs.)
5.
A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. (Obs.)
6.
(Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.
7.
A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.
8.
A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
9.
A coal cart. (Eng.)
10.
The sea; a wave. See Flote, n.
11.
(Banking) The free use of money for a time between occurrence of a transaction (such as depositing a check or a purchase made using a credit card), and the time when funds are withdrawn to cover the transaction; also, the money made available between transactions in that manner.
12.
A vehicle on which an exhibit or display is mounted, driven or pulled as part of a parade. The float often is based on a large flat platform, and may contain a very elaborate structure with a tableau or people.
Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; a vane.
Float case (Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship.
Float copper or Float gold (Mining), fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost.
Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop.
Float stone (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface.
Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1 (b).





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Float" Quotes from Famous Books



... paws. He carefully collected this in his hand, and then placed the body of the muskrat beside the otter and the beaver. He then blew upon the earth and thus made it dry and porous, so that when it was placed in the water it would not sink but float. He then put a lively little mouse upon it, which by running round and round upon the earth made it grow larger and larger. Nanahboozhoo then put a squirrel upon it for the same object. Then the marten and mink—for the new earth was now so extended ...
— Algonquin Indian Tales • Egerton R. Young
... in the provinces committed to his charge, he had no choice but to continue the war. But on January 27, 1574, Orange conquered Middelburg and from that date the Spanish flag ceased to float over any portion of the soil of Holland or Zeeland. In open battle at Mook, however, [Sidenote: April 14, 1574] the Spanish veterans again achieved success, defeating the patriots under Louis of Nassau, who lost his life. The beginning of the year saw the investment of Leyden in great ...
— The Age of the Reformation • Preserved Smith
... privatized several enterprises. The budget deficit rose to an estimated 8% of GDP in 2004 compared to 6.1% of GDP the previous year, in part as a result of these reforms. Monetary pressures on an overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to float the currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in its value and consequent inflationary pressure. In 2004, the Central Bank implemented measures to improve currency liquidity. Egypt reached record tourism levels, ...
— The 2005 CIA World Factbook • United States. Central Intelligence Agency
... of dances and similar exhibitions, accompanied by various musical instruments and two portable organs. Toward the end of the procession came four floats, so made as to form a sort of doubly-sloping roof. On the float were placed [the sacred things] which the Mindanaos had plundered: on each slope lay the chasuble, choristers' mantles, frontals, and other sacred ornaments; on the ridge stood the chalices, monstrances and patens; and at the ...
— The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 (Vol 27 of 55) • Various
... beautiful poem, written not very long ago by a master-hand that surely held God's commission to write. It is a dead hand now, but the written words remain, and the singer herself has gone to the land of the Hereafter, where the souls of the poets float for ever in the full light of their recovered Godhead, singing such songs as mortal ear hath not yet heard, nor mortal heart conceived of. And the poem of which I spoke, has this ending:— "'Jasper first,' I said, 'And second, ...
— Dreams and Dream Stories • Anna (Bonus) Kingsford


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