[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

float \float\ fl=ot, n.oe. flote ship, boat, fleet, as.
   flota ship, fr. fle'otan to float; akin to d. vloot fleet,
   g. floss raft, icel. floti float, raft, fleet, sw. flotta.
   root 84. see fleet, v. i., and cf. flotilla, flotsam,
   plover.
   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.
          1913 webster +pjc

                this reform bill . . . had been used as a float
                by the conservative ministry.     --j. p.
                                                  peters.
          1913 webster

   2. a float board. see float board below.
      1913 webster

   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. --knight.
      1913 webster

   4. the act of flowing; flux; flow. obs. --bacon.
      1913 webster

   5. a quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot
      deep. obs. --mortimer.
      1913 webster

   6. plastering the trowel or tool with which the floated
      coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.
      1913 webster

   7. a polishing block used in marble working; a runner.
      --knight.
      1913 webster

   8. a single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers
      for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
      1913 webster

   9. a coal cart. eng. --simmonds.
      1913 webster

   10. the sea; a wave. see flote, n.
       1913 webster

   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.
       pjc

   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.
       pjc

   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.
      --raymond.

   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 .
           1913 webster
see also:
fleet flotilla flotsam plover float board flote 
float case float copper float gold float ore float stone 
float valve float 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

float \float\, v. i. imp.  p. p. floated; p. pr.  vb. n.
   floating. oe. flotien, flotten, as. flotian to float,
   swim, fr. fle'otan. see float, n.
   1. to rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed
      up.
      1913 webster

            the ark no more now floats, but seems on ground.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

            three blustering nights, borne by the southern
            blast,
            i floated.                            --dryden.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            they stretch their broad plumes and float upon the
            wind.                                 --pope.
      1913 webster

            there seems a floating whisper on the hills.
                                                  --byron.
      1913 webster
see also:
floated floating float 

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

float \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.
      1913 webster

            had floated that bell on the inchcape rock.
                                                  --southey.
      1913 webster

   2. to flood; to overflow; to cover with water.
      1913 webster

            proud pactolus floats the fruitful lands. --dryden.
      1913 webster

   3. plastering to pass over and level the surface of with a
      float while the plastering is kept wet.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

[4] : WordNet (r) 2.0

float
     n 1: the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank
          and its payment
     2: the number of shares outstanding and available for trading
        by the public
     3: a drink with ice cream floating in it syn: ice-cream soda,
         ice-cream float
     4: an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a
        truck or pulled by a truck in a procession or parade
     5: a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and
        finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco syn:
         plasterer's float
     6: something that remains on the surface of a liquid
     v 1: be in motion due to some air or water current; "the leaves
          were blowing in the wind"; "the boat drifted on the
          lake"; "the sailboat was adrift on the open sea"; "the
          shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore" syn: drift,
           be adrift, blow
     2: be afloat; stay on a liquid surface; not sink syn: swim
        ant: sink
     3: set afloat; "he floated the logs down the river"; "the boy
        floated his toy boat on the pond"
     4: circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with; "the
        republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform"
     5: move lightly, as if suspended; "the dancer floated across
        the stage"
     6: put into the water; "float a ship"
     7: make the surface of level or smooth; "float the plaster"
     8: allow currencies to fluctuate; "the government floated the
        ruble for a few months"
     9: convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point
        notation; "float data"
see also:
ice-cream soda ice-cream float plasterer's float drift be adrift blow 
swim sink 

[5] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

160 moby thesaurus words for "float":
   carling float, arrange, ascend, aspire, balsa, balsa raft, barge,
   bathe, bear up, become airborne, boat, bob, boom, brandish,
   bring off, bring up, broach, bundle, bundle off, buoy, buoy up,
   bus, carry off, cart, christen, claw skyward, coach, consummate,
   cork, dart, deluge, dip, dive, dray, drift, drown, duck, dunk,
   effect, establish, ferry, flap, flaunt, float high, flood,
   flourish, flow on, flutter, fly, fly aloft, foot, found,
   gain altitude, get, get going, get moving, ghost, give a start,
   glide, go in swimming, go in wading, go public, hang, haul,
   hold up, hover, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, institute,
   introduce, inundate, issue, issue stock, kick off, kite, launch,
   leave the ground, levitate, life buoy, life preserver, life raft,
   lift up, lighter, negotiate, organize, plane, platform,
   plow the deep, poise, pontoon, pour on, pull off, put in motion,
   raft, rain, raise, ride, ride high, ride the sea, ring in, rise,
   run, sail, scud, send, send forth, send off, set afloat,
   set agoing, set going, set in motion, set on foot, set up, shake,
   ship, shoot, skim, skinny-dip, sled, sledge, slip, sluice, soar,
   spire, start, start going, start off, start up, submerge,
   surfboard, sustain, swamp, swim, swing, take off, transact,
   tread water, truck, turn on, undulate, upbear, uphold, uplift,
   upraise, usher in, van, wade, waft, wag, wagon, walk the waters,
   wash, wave, wheelbarrow, whelm, wield, wigwag, zoom

Float >> F Words
Float, definition of term: Float
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