26984 words

float

29 definitions ā€¢ 44 examples
1
to stay on the surface of a liquid and not sink:

Examples:

An empty bottle will float.
float in You can float very easily in the Dead Sea because it's so salty.
float on Lily pads float on the surface of the pond.
2
to (cause to) move easily through, or along the surface of a liquid, or to (cause to) move easily through air:

Examples:

float down We spent a lazy afternoon floating down the river.
float along It feeds by simply floating along the water and scooping up fish.
float out to He tossed the bottle into the waves and watched it float out to sea.
float something on something The children enjoy floating their boats on the pond in the park.
figurative The sound of piano-playing floated out through the open window.
3
to move smoothly and attractively:

Examples:

She sort of floats around, like a ballet dancer.
4
to move or act without purpose:

Examples:

float around/about Since he lost his job, he's just floated around/about doing nothing.
5
to suggest a plan or an idea to be considered:

Examples:

float an idea Laura has floated the idea that we should think about expanding into Europe next year.
6
to allow the value of a country's money to change according to the value of other countries' money:

Examples:

Argentina decided to let its currency float freely against the dollar.
7
to start selling shares in a business or company for the first time
8
a small amount of money kept by someone who works in a bar, etc., used for giving customers their change
9
a large vehicle with a flat surface that is decorated and used in festivals:

Examples:

10
a light object that floats on the surface of the water and is used to keep a fishing net, or the bait on a fishing line, in a particular position:

Examples:

11
a light object that floats on water and that you hold onto when learning to swim:

Examples:

Hold the float in front of you and kick your legs.
12
a toy animal or other object that is filled with air and played with or sat on in swimming pools:

Examples:

A pool float has now become a holiday essential.
13
a drink with ice cream on the top:

Examples:

I'll have a root beer float, please.
14
to stay or move easily on or over the surface of a liquid, or to cause something to move in this way:

Examples:

[ I ] An empty bottle will float on water.
[ I ] Iā€™d float around for hours, just fishing.
[ T ] Fill the cups with hot coffee and float heavy cream on top.
[ I ] We spent a lazy afternoon floating down the river.
[ I ] fig. She removes the pins and her hair floats (= moves gracefully) down around her.
[ I ] fig. Reports have been floating around (= heard from various people) that the company might be for sale.
15
Float also means to move easily through air:

Examples:

[ I ] Fluffy white clouds were floating across the sky.
16
to sell bonds (= official papers given to people who lend money to a government or company):

Examples:

Cities float bond issues that are payable from property taxes.
17
a large vehicle that is decorated and used in parades (= public celebrations in which people march, walk, and ride along a planned route):

Examples:

18
a sweet drink with ice cream floating in it:

Examples:

a root beer float
19
a piece of light material that stays on the surface of water:

Examples:

the float in a toilet tank
20
to offer new shares or bonds for sale on a financial market:

Examples:

The authority has recently floated a $170 million bond to pay for some of the installation costs.
21
to sell shares on a stock market for the first time in order to finance a new company:

Examples:

There are several new businesses looking to float.
float (sth) on the stock market/stock exchange etc. The group is planning to float on the New York Stock Exchange later this year.
float at $3/200p/ etc. (a share) The stock was floated at 233p a share last July and closed up 3.75p last night at 286.25p.
Last January the chief executive said he would only float the company if there was a "dramatic" revival in the market.
22
if a country floats its currency, or if the currency floats, the government no longer controls its value in relation to the value of other currencies:

Examples:

Central Bank is planning to stop letting the peso float freely.
23
to make a suggestion, especially one for doing something that is different from what has been done in the past:

Examples:

float an idea/proposal/suggestion The partnership idea was floated at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last year.
24
if a price or amount floats, it changes:

Examples:

In the space of a few weeks, stock valuation floated up by 15%.
25
a situation in which a company offers shares for sale on a stock market for the first time:

Examples:

The stock has been one of the great out-performers of recent times, rising more than 90% since the company's float 11 years ago.
The planned flotation of the new Internet portal has been postponed.
a $90 billion/Ā£350 million, etc. float Bank of China is poised to file for $8 bn float.
Shares are currently below their 330p-a-share float price.
26
a situation in which a government no longer controls the value of its country's currency in relation to the value of other currencies:

Examples:

27
money that becomes available for a bank to spend before customers' cheques are paid:

Examples:

The speed of electronic processing has all but eliminated the need for float.
28
cash that is available to give as change to customers at the start of business each day
29
ā†’

Navigation