- float
- 1
verb
1 ON WATER (I)a) to stay or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking: Wood usually floats. | Annie was floating on her back in the pool. | along/down/past etc: The logs floated down the river.b) (T) to put something on the surface of a liquid so that it does not sink: Pour the coffee and brandy into a mug, then float the cream on top.2 IN THE AIR (intransitive always + adv/prep) if something floats, especially something very light or filled with air, it moves slowly in the air or stays up in the air(+ up/down/through etc): He watched the balloon float up into the sky.3 MUSIC/SOUNDS/SMELLS ETC (intransitive always + adv/prep) if sounds, smells etc float somewhere, people in another place can hear or smell them(+ down/towards/into etc): The sound of her voice came floating down from an upstairs window.4 MONEY (I, T) technical if a country floats its money or its money floats, the value of the money is allowed to change freely in relation to money from other countries: Russia floated the ruble on the foreign exchange market.5 SUGGEST (T) to suggest an idea or plan, especially in order to find out what people think about it: The idea was first floated in a speech given by the President a few months ago.6 COMPANY (T) to sell shares (share2 (6) in a company or business to the public for the first time—see also: flotation (1)7 CHEQUE AmE (T) to write a cheque that you do not have enough money in the bank to pay; bounce 1 (3) BrE8 MOVE GRACEFULLY (I) to move gracefully and lightly: Rachel floated around the bedroom in a lace nightgown.9 NO DEFINITE PURPOSE (intransitive always + adv/prep) to keep changing what you are doing without having any particular ideas or plans: Dean seems to float from job to job, never getting anywhere.— floater noun (C) 2 noun (C)1 a large vehicle that is decorated to be part of a parade 1 (1): a procession of Carnival floats—see also: milk float2 AmE a soft drink that has ice cream floating in it3 a light object that floats on the surface of the water, used especially for catching fish4 a light object used when swimming to support your body5 a small amount of money that someone in a shop keeps so that they have enough money to give change to people
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.