■ verb
1》 rest or cause to rest on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
↘be suspended freely in a liquid or gas.
2》 move slowly or hover in a liquid or the air.
↘move in a casual or leisurely way.
↘(in sport) make (the ball) travel lightly and effortlessly through the air.
3》 put forward (an idea) as a suggestion or test of reactions.
4》 offer the shares of (a company) for sale on the stock market for the first time.
5》 (of a currency) fluctuate freely in value.
■ noun
1》 any hollow or lightweight object or device used to achieve buoyancy in water.
↘a small ~ing object attached to a fishing line to signal the bite of a fish.
↘a ~ing device which forms part of a valve apparatus controlling a flow of water.
2》 Brit. a small vehicle or cart powered by electricity.
↘a platform mounted on a truck and carrying a display in a procession.
3》 Brit. a sum of money used for change at the beginning of a period of selling in a shop, stall, etc.
4》 chiefly N. Amer. a soft drink with a scoop of ice cream ~ing in it.
5》 a hand tool with a rectangular blade used for smoothing plaster.
Phrases
~ someone's boat informal appeal to or excite someone.
Derivatives
~able adjective
Origin
OE flotian , of Gmc origin and related to fleet 5 .