float
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to stay on the surface of a liquid like water without sinking.
v.to be supported by a fluid of greater density than the object, remaining on the surface or suspended within it.
Simple“The children watched the colorful plastic ducks float across the swimming pool.”
In context“Even heavy steel ships can float because they are designed to displace a volume of water equal to their own weight.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to move slowly and lightly through the air or across a space.
v.to drift or glide gently through the air or move in a fluid, effortless manner.
Simple“A single white feather floated down from the sky and landed on the grass.”
In context“The scent of jasmine floated through the open window, filling the study with a delicate fragrance.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to suggest a new idea or plan to see if people like it.
v.to propose an idea, scheme, or candidate for consideration, often to gauge public or group reaction.
Simple“The manager floated the idea of a four-day work week during the meeting.”
In context“The government floated a proposal for a new tax incentive to determine if the private sector would support the investment.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a large, decorated vehicle used in a parade.
n.an elaborately decorated platform or vehicle designed for display in a parade or pageant.
Simple“The most popular float in the parade was covered in thousands of fresh roses.”
In context“Volunteers spent months constructing the carnival float, ensuring every mechanical element functioned perfectly for the televised procession.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a small amount of cash kept in a shop's till to give customers change.
n.a fixed sum of money placed in a cash register at the start of a business period to facilitate making change.
Simple“The shop assistant checked the float before opening the doors to customers.”
In context“The supervisor noticed a discrepancy in the daily float, prompting a full audit of the morning's transactions.”
Synonymspetty cashreserve - 06 B1 Intermediate
n.a drink made of soda with a scoop of ice cream on top.
n.a beverage consisting of a soft drink, such as root beer or cola, with a scoop of ice cream suspended in it.
Simple“On a hot day, nothing is better than a cold root beer float.”
In context“The diner's signature dessert was a classic coke float served in a tall glass with a long spoon.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an object that stays on top of water, like a marker for fishing or a safety device.
n.a buoyant device used to support something in a liquid or to mark a specific location on the surface.
Simple“The fisherman watched his float closely, waiting for a fish to bite.”
In context“The safety inspector checked the emergency floats on the aircraft to ensure they would deploy correctly in the event of a water landing.”
- 08 C1 Advanced
n.a type of number in computer programming that can have a decimal point.
n.a data type representing a floating-point number, typically used for real numbers with fractional parts.
Simple“You should use a float instead of an integer if you need to store prices.”
In context“The algorithm failed because the programmer used an integer where a float was required to maintain the precision of the calculations.”
Usage floated the idea
“A little way out, I stop and float on my back.”
“In its walls, painted gods marched or floated through an ocean of hieroglyphs.”
From Middle English floten, from Old English flotian (“to float”), from Proto-West Germanic flotōn, from Proto-Germanic flutōną (“to float”), from Proto-Indo-European plewd-, plew- (“to float, swim, fly”). Compare flow, fleet.
From Middle English flote, from Old English flota (“sailor, boat”), from Proto-West Germanic flotō, from Proto-Germanic flutô, from Proto-Indo-European *plewd-.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.