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verb 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. "Had floated that bell on the Inchcape rock." 2.To flood; to overflow; to cover with water. "Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands." 3.(Plastering) To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the plastering is kept wet. 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.
Float v. i. (past & past part. floated; pres. part. floating) 1.To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up. "The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground." "Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated." 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. "They stretch their broad plumes and float upon the wind." "There seems a floating whisper on the hills."
noun Float n. 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. "This reform bill... had been used as a float by the conservative ministry." 2.A float board. See Float board (below). 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. 4.The act of flowing; flux; flow. (Obs.) 5.A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. (Obs.) 6.(Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed. 7.A polishing block used in marble working; a runner. 8.A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe. 10.The sea; a wave. See Flote, n. 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. 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. 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. 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).
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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