Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To rise or float in the air, seemingly in defiance of gravity, without physical support.
2. Verb (transitive):
   • To cause someone or something to rise and float in the air.

Usage

• Intransitive Use: The subject (a person or object) performs the action of floating.
  • The yogi meditated deeply and began to levitate.
• Transitive Use: The subject causes the object to float.
  • The illusionist appeared to levitate a table with a wave of his hand.

Examples

• Intransitive:
  • In the story, the wizard could levitate above the ground.
  • The feather seemed to levitate in the still air of the room.
• Transitive:
  • The special effects team used wires to levitate the actor for the scene.
  • The experiment aimed to levitate small objects using sound waves.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Scientific Context: Used in physics to describe the suspension of an object by magnetic, acoustic, or other non-contact forces.
  • Superconductors can levitate above magnets due to the Meissner effect.
• Figurative Use: To describe a feeling of lightness, euphoria, or being emotionally uplifted.
  • The wonderful news made her heart levitate with joy.

Variants and Related Words

• Levitation (noun): The act or process of levitating; the state of being levitated.
  • The magician's levitation of his assistant was the highlight of the show.
• Levitator (noun): A person or device that causes levitation.

Synonyms

• Float: To rest or move on the surface of a liquid or in the air. (Less specific about defying gravity.)
• Hover: To remain suspended in the air in one place.
• Soar: To fly or rise high in the air. (Implies upward motion, not necessarily static floating.)

Antonyms

• Sink: To descend below the surface of a liquid.
• Fall: To move downward, typically rapidly and freely, under the force of gravity.
• Ground: To bring or come to the ground; to prevent from flying.

Related Phrases and Idioms

(Note: "Levitate" itself is not commonly used in standard English idioms. The concept is typically expressed directly.) - Defy gravity: To act against the force of gravity; a phrase often used interchangeably with or to describe levitation. - The skateboarder seemed to defy gravity with his incredible jump.

Verb

1. be suspended in the air, as if in defiance of gravity
   • The guru claimed that he could levitate
2. cause to rise in the air and float, as if in defiance of gravity
   • The magician levitated the woman