intransitive. To rest upon the surface of a liquid; to be buoyed up; opposed to sink. Obsolete exc. dialect.

To float on the surface of any liquid; to be supported on water or other fluid; not to sink; to form the upper part of a mass of liquid…

To rest on the surface of any liquid; to be buoyed up; to be or become buoyant.

intransitive. To remain in a suspended or floating condition, as a bird in the air or a boat on water; to be poised, to hover, v.1

transitive and intransitive. Of a liquid: to lie above and in contact with (a solid residue, other liquid, etc.). Cf. supernatant, adj. 1a.