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: plasterers float ]

  6. something that floats on the surface of water

  7. an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy

    [ Syn: air bladder , swim bladder ]

    float (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 either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom

    [ Syn: swim ]

  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'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.