float

noun

1. an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy

Synonym: air bladderswim bladder

2. something that floats on the surface of water

3. a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco

Synonym: plasterer's float

4. an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade

5. a drink with ice cream floating in it

Synonym: ice-cream sodaice-cream float

6. the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public

7. the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment

verb

1. convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation

e.g. float data

2. allow (currencies) to fluctuate

e.g. The government floated the ruble for a few months

3. make the surface of level or smooth

e.g. float the plaster

4. put into the water

e.g. float a ship

5. move lightly, as if suspended

e.g. The dancer floated across the stage

6. set afloat

e.g. He floated the logs down the river
The boy floated his toy boat on the pond

7. be in motion due to some air or water current

e.g. 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

Synonym: driftbe adriftblow

8. be afloat either on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom

Synonym: swim

9. circulate or discuss tentatively
test the waters with

e.g. The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform

1. (使)漂浮;(使)浮动
If something or someone is floating in a liquid, they are in the liquid, on or just below the surface, and are being supported by it. You can also float something on a liquid.

e.g. They noticed fifty and twenty dollar bills floating in the water.
他们发现水中漂浮着50和20美元的纸币。
e.g. ...barges floating quietly by the grassy river banks...
青草萋萋的河岸边静静漂浮着的驳船

2. 漂;浮
Something that floats lies on or just below the surface of a liquid when it is put in it and does not sink.

e.g. Empty things float.
空的物体会在水中浮起。

3. 浮体;浮板;救生圈
A float is a light object that is used to help someone or something float.

4. (钓鱼用的)鱼漂浮子
A float is a small object attached to a fishing line which floats on the water and moves when a fish has been caught.

5. (在空中)飘荡，飘浮
Something that floats in or through the air hangs in it or moves slowly and gently through it.

e.g. The white cloud of smoke floated away.
白色的烟雾飘远了。
e.g. ...the sun's rays lighting up the dust floating in the air.
阳光照亮了空气中浮动的灰尘

6. (声音或气味)飘到，传到
If a sound or smell floats to a place quite far away, it can be heard or smelled there.

e.g. Sublime music floats on a scented summer breeze to the spot where you lie on the lush grass...
你躺在绿草如茵的草地上，涤荡心灵的乐声随着清香的夏日微风飘到你的身边。
e.g. The smells of delicious foods floated all around him.
美食的香味弥漫在他的四周。

7. 优雅地走动;轻盈地走动
If you float somewhere, you walk there very lightly and gracefully.

float的反义词

e.g. Caroline floated up the aisle on her father's arm.
卡罗琳挽着父亲的手臂从过道上优雅地走过。

8. 提出(计划、方案或想法)
If you float a project, plan, or idea, you suggest it for others to think about.

e.g. The French had floated the idea of placing the diplomatic work in the hands of the UN.
法国提出将外交工作交由联合国处理的想法。

9. 使(公司)发行股票;使上市
If a company director floats their company, they start to sell shares in it to the public.

e.g. He floated his firm on the stock market...
他让自己的公司上市了。
e.g. The advisers are delaying the key decision on whether to float 60 per cent or 100 per cent of the shares.
顾问们对于发行60%还是100%股份的关键问题迟迟未作决定。

10. (使)(货币)自由浮动
If a government floats its country's currency or allows it to float, it allows the currency's value to change freely in relation to other currencies.

e.g. A decision by the Finns to float their currency sent a shudder through the foreign exchanges...
芬兰允许其货币自由浮动的决定在外汇市场上引起了震动。
e.g. 59 per cent of people believed the pound should be allowed to float freely.
59%的人认为应该允许英镑自由浮动。

11. (节日游行时的)彩车，花车
A float is a truck on which displays and people in special costumes are carried in a festival procession.

12. (商店的)备用零钱
A float is a small amount of coins and notes of low value that someone has before they start selling things so that they are able to give customers change if necessary.

float的反义词

13. 传开;流传
A rumour or idea that is floating around is often heard or talked about.

e.g. There are still some unfounded fears floating around out there about cancer being contagious.
社会上还是有一些毫无根据的关于癌症会传染的恐惧。

相关词组：float around

1. float

1. 彩车：我们刚结束不久的游行演练是 parade rehearal,在国庆当天举行的群众欢庆游行是mass pageant,到时走在最前的是仪仗队或游行乐队,紧随其后的是方阵(square)和彩车(float).

2. 浮标：纪念品店也不少,许多都会以抓龙虾的圆形笼子(lobster trap)与五颜六色的大型浮标(float)作为装饰品吸引顾客. 所贩卖的商品少不了以龙虾为主题的周边产品,如龙虾造型冰箱磁铁,以及印有龙虾图案的T-shirt等. 最特别的地景是,

3. float

3. 漂浮