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Definition float in British English

float verb

verb
/fləʊt/
1

to rest or move slowly on the surface of a liquid and not sink

Example

Their raft would not float.

Example

Leaves and twigs floated on the water.

Example

Miranda floated by on her back.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to place something or make it move on the surface of a liquid

Example

They were floating little paper boats on the lake.

Synonyms and related words
2

to be lighter than air, and to move slowly through it

Example

Bubbles floated in the air.

Example

A cloud floated across the moon.

Synonyms and related words
3

if a sound or smell floats somewhere, it moves through the air so that it can be heard or smelt in different places

Example

Music floated up from the garden.

Example

Perfume floated around her.

Synonyms and related words
4

to move in a very soft and graceful way

Example

Fabia floated down the stairs in a long white dress.

Synonyms and related words
5

to behave in a way that shows you do not have a clear plan for what you want to do

Example

She just sort of floats through life.

Synonyms and related words
6

to start to sell a company's shares on the stock market

Example

The company was floated in 1993.

Synonyms and related words
7

to suggest an idea for people to consider to see how they will react

Example

Various explanations for his resignation are being floated.

Synonyms and related words
8

if something such as an idea floats, it is successful or accepted

Example

Old TV shows refurbished as films rarely float.

Synonyms and related words
10

to kick or hit a ball so that it moves slowly through the air

Synonyms and related words
11

to come up with an idea

Example

American president Donald Trump floated the idea of adding solar panels to his proposed barrier along the the US-Mexico border.

12

to file a horse's teeth flat

Definition float in British English