flotation
noun /fləʊˈteɪʃn/
/fləʊˈteɪʃn/
- (also float)[countable, uncountable] (business) the process of selling shares in a company to the public for the first time in order to raise money
- plans for (a) flotation on the stock exchange
- a stock-market flotation
- [uncountable] (formal) the act of floating on or in water
- All who remain missing are believed to be wearing flotation devices.
Word Originearly 19th cent.: alteration of floatation (from float) on the pattern of French flottaison. The spelling flot- was influenced by flotilla.