floatverb
uk/fləʊt/us/floʊt/float verb (NOT SINK)
B1 [ I ] to stay on the surface of a liquid and not sink:
More examples
- We lashed together anything that would float to make a raft.
- The body hit the water, floated for a few seconds, and then sank to the bottom of the river.
- In science we learned about density, and why oil floats on water.
- In the pool, several ladies were floating on their backs, like starfish, with their arms and legs stretched out.
- "My rubber duck won't float any more!" "Oh dear - it's all full of water, that's why."
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Staying afloat, capsizing & sinking
- bail sth out
- buoy
- ducking
- go
- go under
- ground
- keel
- keel over
- refloat
- resurface
- ride
- ride sth out
- right
- run
- run aground/ashore idiom
- sank
- submerge
- sunken
- unsinkable
- waterlogged
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float verb (MOVE)
B1 [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] to (cause to) move easily through, or along the surface of a liquid, or to (cause to) move easily through air:
[ I usually + adv/prep ] literary to move smoothly and attractively:
[ I usually + adv/prep ] to move or act without purpose:
More examples
- She stopped rowing and let the boat float with the stream.
- He floated through his exams with no problems whatsoever.
- From the riverbank he watched the boats float past.
- He let go of the string and the balloon floated off into the distance.
- He floats past defenders as if they weren't there.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Movement on or through water
- dabble
- dip
- hydroplane
- paddle
- raft
- row 1
- sail
- surface
- swim
- tack
- wade
- wallow
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
float verb (SUGGEST)
[ T ] to suggest a plan or an idea to be considered:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Suggestions & proposals
- about
- get at sth
- grab
- hint
- how about...? idiom
- how does... grab you? idiom
- how/what about...? idiom
- indication
- it wouldn't hurt you to do sth idiom
- might
- offer
- on the table idiom
- point sb towards/in the direction of sth idiom
- posit
- postulate
- proposal
- propose
- put
- put ideas into sb's head idiom
- table
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float verb (CHANGE VALUE)
[ I or T ] specialized finance & economics to allow the value of a country's money to change according to the value of other countries' money:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Economics
- autarchy
- broad money
- Chancellor of the Exchequer
- consumer price index
- credit crunch
- depressed
- downturn
- expenditure
- GDP per capita
- GNI
- hyperinflation
- market forces
- mixed economy
- pecuniary
- protectionism
- retail price index
- spending
- stall
- trade figures
- upturn
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float verb (BUSINESS)
[ T ] to start selling shares in a business or company for the first time
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Success & failure in business
- administration
- axe
- bankrupt
- bankruptcy
- branch
- branch out
- collapse
- establish
- fold
- foreclose
- growing pains
- joint venture
- liquidator
- locate
- moribund
- official receiver
- organic growth
- receivership
- shut (sth) down
- spin
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Idiom(s)
Phrasal verb(s)
floatnoun
uk/fləʊt/us/floʊt/float noun (MONEY)
[ S ] UK a small amount of money kept by someone who works in a bar, etc., used for giving customers their change
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Amounts of money
- ante
- appropriation
- balance
- bank
- blood money
- bounty
- buck
- budget
- capital
- circumstance
- have/get your snout in the trough idiom
- living wage
- money supply
- nut
- payout
- pool
- slush fund
- spending money
- sub
- trough
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float noun (VEHICLE)
[ C ] a large vehicle with a flat surface that is decorated and used in festivals:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Carnival, fairground & circus
- acrobatics
- amusement arcade
- amusement park
- big dipper
- big top
- big wheel
- coconut shy
- contortionist
- custard pie
- Dodgem (car)
- fairground
- Ferris wheel
- Indian club
- juggle
- juggler
- merry-go-round
- midway
- Punch and Judy show
- tame
- unicycle
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
float noun (NOT SINK)
[ C ] a piece of wood or other light material that stays on the surface of water:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Staying afloat, capsizing & sinking
- bail sth out
- buoy
- ducking
- go
- go under
- ground
- keel
- keel over
- refloat
- resurface
- ride
- ride sth out
- right
- run
- run aground/ashore idiom
- sank
- submerge
- sunken
- unsinkable
- waterlogged
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float noun (DRINK)
[ C ] a drink with ice cream on the top:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Soft drinks
- apple juice
- bitter lemon
- bottled
- bottled water
- cider
- cream soda
- fizz
- ginger
- ginger ale
- juice
- lassi
- lemonade
- mixer
- orangeade
- peachick
- pinta
- root beer
- sarsaparilla
- squash
- tonic
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