float

CEFRB1

/fləʊt/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To stay on or near the surface of a liquid.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To cause something to be suspended in a fluid of greater density.

Examples

  • The substance is light enough to float on the water.

  • Hey! Throw that float to me.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /floʊt/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object).

  2. To be supported by a liquid of greater density, such that part (of the object or substance) remains above the surface.

  3. To be capable of floating.

More examples

In context

  • Helium balloons float in air, while air-filled balloons don't.

  • The boat floated on the water.

  • The oil floated on the vinegar.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The small wooden boat began to blank gently on the calm water, moving with the current.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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.