Meaning

• Of an object or substance, to be supported by a liquid of greater density than the object so as that part of the object or substance remains above the surface.

  "The boat floated on the water."

• To cause something to be suspended in a liquid of greater density.

  "to float a boat"

• To be capable of floating.

  "Oil floats on vinegar."

• To move in a particular direction with the liquid in which one is floating

  "I’d love to just float downstream."

• To drift or wander aimlessly.

  "Images from my childhood floated through my mind."

• To drift gently through the air.

  "The balloon floated off into the distance."

• To move in a fluid manner.

  "The dancer floated gracefully around the stage."

• To circulate.

  "There's a rumour floating around the office that Jan is pregnant."

• (of an idea or scheme) To be viable.

  "That’s a daft idea... it’ll never float."

• To propose (an idea) for consideration.

  "I floated the idea of free ice-cream on Fridays, but no one was interested."

• To automatically adjust a parameter as related parameters change.

• (of currencies) To have an exchange value determined by the markets as opposed to by rule.

  "The yen floats against the dollar."

• To allow (the exchange value of a currency) to be determined by the markets.

  "Increased pressure on Thailand’s currency, the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that forced the government to float the currency."

• To extend a short-term loan to.

  "Could you float me $50 until payday?"

• To issue or sell shares in a company (or units in a trust) to members of the public, followed by listing on a stock exchange.

  "2007, Jonathan Reuvid, Floating Your Company: The Essential Guide to Going Public."

• To spread plaster over (a surface), using the tool called a float.

• To use a float (rasp-like tool) upon.

  "It is time to float this horse's teeth."

• To transport by float (vehicular trailer).

• To perform a float.

• To cause (an element within a document) to float above or beside others.

Meaning

• The motion of something that floats.

• (in the plural) Material that floats in a liquid.

• The spreading of plaster on the surface of walls.

Meaning

• That floats or float.

  "floating buoys"

• Not fixed in position, opinion etc.; free to move or drift.

  "In China, the large floating population has tended to gravitate to cities."

• (of a tone) that is not attached to any consonant or vowel within its morpheme.