Topic: CURRENCIES
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | flotian |
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float1
1
on water
a) [intransitive] to stay or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking : I wasn't sure if the raft would float. She spent the afternoon floating on her back in the pool.
I wasn't sure if the raft would float.She spent the afternoon floating on her back in the pool.b) [transitive] to put something on the surface of a liquid so that it does not sink : The logs are trimmed and then floated down the river.
The logs are trimmed and then floated down the river.2 if something floats, it moves slowly through the air or stays up in the air : I looked up at the clouds floating in the sky. Leaves floated gently down from the trees.
in the air
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]I looked up at the clouds floating in the sky.Leaves floated gently down from the trees.3 if sounds or smells float somewhere, people in another place can hear or smell them : The sound of her voice came floating down from an upstairs window.
music/sounds/smells etc
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]The sound of her voice came floating down from an upstairs window.4 to walk in a slow light graceful way [= glide]: Rachel floated around the bedroom in a lace nightgown.
walk gracefully
[intransitive]Rachel floated around the bedroom in a lace nightgown.5 to suggest an idea or plan in order to see if people like it : We first floated the idea back in 1992.
ideas
[transitive]We first floated the idea back in 1992.6 if the government of a country floats its money, the value of the money is allowed to change freely in relation to money from other countries : Russia decided to float the rouble on the foreign exchange market.
money
[ transitive] technicalPECRussia decided to float the rouble on the foreign exchange market.7 to sell shares in a company or business to the public for the first time ➔ flotation (1)
company
[transitive]BFS8 to write a cheque when you do not have enough money in the bank to pay it
cheque
[transitive] American Englishfloat around
phrasal verbThere's a lot of cash floating around in the economy at the moment.