float

noun countable

UK /fləʊt/

Word Forms

singular	float
plural	floats

1
an object used in fishing that floats on the water
Synonyms and related words
Hunting, shooting and fishing equipment
bait
barb
cockpit
1. 1a
  an object that floats on the water and supports your body
  Synonyms and related words
  Floating and the ability to float
  afloat
  adrift
  buoyant
2
a large vehicle decorated and driven as part of a parade
Synonyms and related words
Road vehicles other than cars
4×4
4WD
all-terrain vehicle
See alsomilk float
3
businessthe first time that a company starts to sell its shares on the stock market
The company directors made over £1 million each from the float.
Synonyms and related words
Stocks and shares and the stock exchange
bear
bearish
bear market
4
a small extra amount of money in coins and notes, kept by a shop so that customers can be given change when they buy something
Synonyms and related words
The activity of selling
aftermarket
buyer’s market
call
5
Americana soft drink with ice cream floating in it
Synonyms and related words
Non-alcoholic drinks
americano
angostura
barley water

float

noun countable

US /floʊt/

Word Forms

singular	float
plural	floats

1
a large vehicle decorated and driven as part of a parade
Synonyms and related words
Road vehicles other than cars
18-wheeler
4×4
4WD
2
Americana soft drink with ice cream floating in it
a rootbeer float
Synonyms and related words
Non-alcoholic drinks
americano
angostura
bitter lemon
3
businessthe first time that a company starts to sell its shares on the stock market
The company directors made over $1 million each from the float.
Synonyms and related words
Stocks and shares and the stock exchange
bear
bearish
bear market
4
an object used in fishing that floats on the water
Synonyms and related words
Hunting, shooting and fishing equipment
bait
barb
cockpit
1. 4a
  an object that floats on the water and supports your body
  Synonyms and related words
  Floating and the ability to float
  afloat
  adrift
  buoyant
5
a small extra amount of money in coins and notes, kept by a store so that customers can be given change when they buy something
Synonyms and related words
The activity of selling
aftermarket
buyer’s market
call

float

verb

UK /fləʊt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	float
he/she/it	floats
present participle	floating
past tense	floated
past participle	floated

1
intransitive to rest or move slowly on the surface of a liquid and not sink
Their raft would not float.
float on/in:
Leaves and twigs floated on the water.
float by/along/towards etc:
Miranda floated by on her back.
Synonyms and related words
To float, or to make something float
float
ride
be suspended in something
1. 1a
  transitive to place something or make it move on the surface of a liquid
  They were floating little paper boats on the lake.
  Synonyms and related words
  To float, or to make something float
  float
  ride
  be suspended in something
2
intransitive to be lighter than air, and to move slowly through it
float in/through/across/over etc:
Bubbles floated in the air.
A cloud floated across the moon.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something, slowly
crawl
dawdle
creep
3
intransitive if a sound or smell floats somewhere, it moves through the air so that it can be heard or smelt in different places
float up/down/across/through etc:
Music floated up from the garden.
Perfume floated around her.
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become obvious or noticeable
stand out
jump out at
stick out
4
intransitive to move in a very soft and graceful way
float down/up/across etc:
Fabia floated down the stairs in a long white dress.
Synonyms and related words
To slide, or to move in a graceful way
slide
glide
slither
5
intransitive to behave in a way that shows you do not have a clear plan for what you want to do
She just sort of floats through life.
Synonyms and related words
To do something without preparation
rush into
fall into
plunge in
6
transitive businessto start to sell a company’s shares on the stock market
The company was floated in 1993.
Synonyms and related words
Stocks and shares and the stock exchange
bear
bearish
bear market
7
transitive to suggest an idea for people to consider to see how they will react
Various explanations for his resignation are being floated.
Synonyms and related words
To make a suggestion
suggest
put forward
propose
8
intransitive informalif something such as an idea floats, it is successful or accepted
Old TV shows refurbished as films rarely float.
Synonyms and related words
To develop or happen successfully
shape up
function
work out
9
intransitive/transitive economicsif a government floats its currency, its value is allowed to change in relation to other currencies
Synonyms and related words
Currency and currencies
a run on something
base currency
basket
10
transitive mainly journalismto kick or hit a ball so that it moves slowly through the air
Synonyms and related words
To kick or hit a ball in a game or sport
strike at
kick
play
11
float an idea
to come up with an idea
American president Donald Trump floated the idea of adding solar panels to his proposed barrier along the the US–Mexico border.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 08/06/2017
Open Dictionary - June2017
12
to file a horse’s teeth flatSubmitted from:
United Kingdom on 18/09/2010
Open Dictionary - September2010

phrases

floating on air/on a cloud

whatever floats your boat

phrasal verbs

float around

float

verb

US /floʊt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	float
he/she/it	floats
present participle	floating
past tense	floated
past participle	floated

1
intransitive to rest or move slowly on the surface of a liquid and not sink
Their raft would not float.
float on/in:
Leaves and twigs floated on the water.
float by/along/toward etc.:
Miranda floated by on her back.
Synonyms and related words
To float, or to make something float
float
ride
be suspended in something
1. 1a
  transitive to place something or make it move on the surface of a liquid
  They were floating little paper boats on the lake.
  Synonyms and related words
  To float, or to make something float
  float
  ride
  be suspended in something
2
intransitive to be lighter than air, and to move slowly through it
float in/through/across/over etc.:
Bubbles floated in the air.
A cloud floated across the moon.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something, slowly
crawl
dawdle
creep
3
intransitive if a sound or smell floats somewhere, it moves through the air so that it can be heard or smelled in different places
float up/down/across/through etc.:
Music floated up from the garden.
Perfume floated around her.
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become obvious or noticeable
stand out
jump out at
leap out at
4
intransitive to move in a very soft and graceful way
float down/up/across etc.:
Fabia floated down the stairs in a long white dress.
Synonyms and related words
To slide, or to move in a graceful way
slide
glide
slither
5
transitive to suggest an idea for people to consider to see how they will react
Various explanations for his resignation are being floated.
Synonyms and related words
To make a suggestion
suggest
put forward
propose
6
intransitive informalif something such as an idea floats, it is successful or accepted
Old TV shows repackaged as movies rarely float.
Synonyms and related words
To develop or happen successfully
develop
prosper
function
7
intransitive to behave in a way that shows you do not have a clear plan for what you want to do
She just sort of floats through life.
Synonyms and related words
To do something without preparation
rush into
fall into
plunge in
8
transitive businessto start to sell a company’s shares on the stock market
The company was floated in 1993.
Synonyms and related words
Stocks and shares and the stock exchange
bear
bearish
bear market
9
intransitive/transitive economicsif a government floats its currency, its value is allowed to change in relation to other currencies
Synonyms and related words
Currency and currencies
a run on something
base currency
basket
10
float an idea
to come up with an idea
American president Donald Trump floated the idea of adding solar panels to his proposed barrier along the the US–Mexico border.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 08/06/2017
Open Dictionary - June2017
11
to file a horse’s teeth flatSubmitted from:
United Kingdom on 18/09/2010
Open Dictionary - September2010

phrases

floating on air/on a cloud

whatever floats your boat

phrasal verbs

float around

float

float

float ​‌‌

float an idea

float ​‌‌

float an idea

float

float