dɹɪft fləʊt floʊt fləʊt floʊt swɪm convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation float data allow (currencies) to fluctuate The government floated the ruble for a few months make the surface of level or smooth float the plaster put into the water float a ship move lightly, as if suspended The dancer floated across the stage set afloat He floated the logs down the river The boy floated his toy boat on the pond be in motion due to some air or water current The leaves were blowing in the wind the boat drifted on the lake The sailboat was adrift on the open sea the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform something that floats on the surface of water a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade a drink with ice cream floating in it the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment