I. ˈflōt noun
Etymology: Middle English flote boat, float, from Old English flota ship; akin to Old High German flōz raft, stream, Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet
Date: before 12th century
1. : an act or instance of floating
2. : something that floats in or on the surface of a fluid: as
a. : a device (as a cork) buoying up the baited end of a fishing line
b. : a floating platform anchored near a shoreline for use by swimmers or boats
c. : a hollow ball that floats at the end of a lever in a cistern, tank, or boiler and regulates the liquid level
d. : a sac containing air or gas and buoying up the body of a plant or animal
e. : a watertight structure giving an airplane buoyancy on water
3. : a tool or apparatus for smoothing a surface (as of wet concrete)
4. : a government grant of a fixed amount of land not yet located by survey out of a larger specific tract
5. : a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit in a parade ; also : the vehicle and exhibit together
6.
a. : an amount of money represented by checks outstanding and in process of collection
b. : the time between a transaction (as the writing of a check or a purchase on credit) and the actual withdrawal of funds to cover it
c. : the volume of a company's shares available for active trading in the auction market
7. : a soft drink with ice cream floating in it
II. verb
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. : to rest on the surface of or be suspended in a fluid
2.
a. : to drift on or through or as if on or through a fluid
yellow leaves float ed down
b. : wander
3. of a currency : to find a level in the international exchange market in response to the law of supply and demand and without any restrictive effect of artificial support or control
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to float in or on the surface of a fluid
b. : to cause to float as if in a fluid
2. : flood
float a cranberry bog
3. : to smooth (as plaster or cement) with a float
4.
a. : to put forth (as a proposal) for acceptance
b. : to place (an issue of securities) on the market
c. : to obtain money for the establishment or development of (an enterprise) by issuing and selling securities
d. : negotiate
float a loan