float

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• intransitive verb To remain suspended within or on the surface of a fluid without sinking.
• intransitive verb To be suspended in or move through space as if supported by a liquid.
• intransitive verb To move from place to place, especially at random.
• intransitive verb To move easily or lightly.
• intransitive verb Economics To rise or fall freely in response to the market.
• intransitive verb To cause to remain suspended without sinking or falling.
• intransitive verb To put into the water; launch.
• intransitive verb To start or establish (a business enterprise, for example).
• intransitive verb To flood (land), as for irrigation.
• intransitive verb Economics To allow (the exchange value of a currency, for example) to rise or fall freely in response to the market.
• intransitive verb To offer for consideration; suggest.
• intransitive verb To release (a security) for sale.
• intransitive verb To arrange for (a loan).
• intransitive verb To make the surface of (plaster, for example) level or smooth.
• intransitive verb Computers To convert (data) from fixed-point notation to floating-point notation.
• noun Something that floats, as.
• noun A raft.
• noun A buoy.
• noun A life preserver.
• noun A buoyant object, such as a piece of cork or a plastic ball, used to hold a net or part of a fishing line afloat.
• noun A landing platform attached to a wharf and floating on the water.
• noun A floating ball attached to a lever to regulate the water level in a tank.
• noun Biology An air-filled sac or structure that aids in the flotation of an aquatic organism.
• noun A decorated exhibit or scene mounted on a mobile platform and pulled or driven in a parade.
• noun The number of shares of a security that are publicly owned and traded.
• noun A sum of money representing checks that are outstanding.
• noun The time between the issuing or depositing of a check and the debiting of the issuer's account.
• noun The time during which a credit card purchase can be repaid without interest.
• noun A tool for smoothing the surface of wet plaster or cement.
• noun A file with sharp ridges used for cutting or smoothing wood.
• noun A soft drink with ice cream floating in it.
• noun Excess time allowed for a task in a project schedule.

from The Century Dictionary.

• To rest on the surface of water or other liquid, with or without movement; more commonly, to be buoyed up by water and moved by its motion alone.
• To rest or move in or as if in a liquid medium; be or appear to be buoyed up, moved, or carried along by or with the aid of a surrounding element: as, clouds, motes, feathers, etc., float in the air; odors float on the breeze; strains of music float on the wind.
• To drift about fortuitously; be moved or carried along aimlessly or vaguely; go and come passively: as, a rumor has floated hither; confused notions floating in the mind.
• In weaving, to pass, as a thread, crosswise under or over several threads without intersecting them.
• To cause to float; buoy; cause to be conveyed on the surface of a liquid: as, the tide floated the ship into the harbor; to float timber down a river.
• To cover with water; flood; irrigate.
• In oyster-culture, to place on a float for fattening. See float, n., 1 .
• In plastering, to pass over and level the surface of, as plaster, with a float frequently dipped in water.
• In ceramics, to wash over or cover with a thin coat, as of varnish, or with enamel.
• In white-lead making, to subject to the process of floating. See floating, n., 4.
• In farriery, to file, as the teeth of horses, especially old horses.
• To set afloat; give course or effect to; procure recognition or support for: used of financial operations: as, to float stocks or bonds; to float a scheme by raising funds to carry it on.
• In sporting, to hunt by approaching with a boat or float at night: as, to float deer.
• noun A timber drag used for dressing off roads, especially race-courses.