float
/float/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A buoyant object: Something that rests on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
- A decorated vehicle: An elaborate, often themed, display mounted on a platform and used in a parade.
- A tool for smoothing: A hand tool with a flat blade used for applying and smoothing materials like plaster or cement.
- A financial term: The number of a company's shares that are publicly owned and available for trading.
- A drink: A beverage, often carbonated, with a scoop of ice cream floating on top.
Verb:
- To rest on liquid: To be or remain on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
- To move lightly: To move or drift gently and smoothly through air or water.
- To launch financially: To offer a company's shares for sale on the stock market for the first time.
- To propose tentatively: To suggest an idea or plan informally to gauge reaction.
- To make level: To make a surface smooth and level, especially with a float tool.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The child held onto a float in the swimming pool.
- The carnival float was decorated with flowers.
- The plasterer used a float to smooth the wall.
- The company has a large float of shares.
- I'll have a root beer float.
Verb:
- Wood will float on water.
- Clouds float across the sky.
- The company plans to float on the stock exchange next year.
- They decided to float the idea of a four-day workweek.
- You need to float the concrete to create a smooth finish.
Advanced Usage
"To float a currency": To allow a currency's value to change freely according to the foreign exchange market.
- The government decided to float the currency.
"In the float": In a state of suspension or buoyancy.
- The astronaut experienced a feeling of being in the float.
Variants and Related Words
- Floater (n): 1. A person or thing that floats. 2. A voter not committed to any party. 3. A small dark spot that seems to float in one's field of vision.
- Floating (adj): Not fixed in one place; buoyant.
- The city has a large floating population.
Synonyms
- Verb: Drift, glide, hover, waft, sail.
- Noun: Buoy, raft, pontoon.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Float around: (Of an idea or rumor) to be discussed informally.
- That rumor has been floating around the office for weeks.
Float through: To proceed in a very relaxed or effortless manner.
- She just floats through life without a care.
Related Idioms
Float someone's boat: To appeal to or excite someone. (Informal)
- If classical music floats your boat, you'll love this concert.
Float on air: To feel extremely happy and light.
- After he proposed, she was floating on air.
Noun
- an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy
- something that floats on the surface of water
- a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco
- an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade
- a drink with ice cream floating in it
- the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public
- the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment
Verb
- convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation
- float data
- allow (currencies) to fluctuate
- The government floated the ruble for a few months
- make the surface of level or smooth
- float the plaster
- put into the water
- float a ship
- move lightly, as if suspended
- The dancer floated across the stage
- circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with
- The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform
- set afloat
- He floated the logs down the river
- The boy floated his toy boat on the pond
- be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom
- 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