float /ˈflot/
 (vi.)浮動,飄動,散播,搖擺,動搖;漂流物,浮舟,漂浮,浮萍,彩車


 float
 浮動


 float
 浮 浮動


 Float n.
 1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the liquid surface, or mark the place of, something. Specifically: (a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft. (b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler. (c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and indicate the bite of a fish. (d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver. (e) The hollow, metallic ball which floats on the fuel in the fuel tank of a vehicle to indicate the level of the fuel surface, and thus the amount of fuel remaining. (f) A hollow elongated tank mounted under the wing of a seaplane which causes the plane to float when resting on the surface of the water.
    This reform bill . . . had been used as a float by the conservative ministry.   --J. P. Peters.
 2. A float board. See Float board (below).
 3. Tempering A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die.
 4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.]
 5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. [Obs.]
 6. Plastering The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.
 7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.
 8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
 9. A coal cart. [Eng.]
 10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n.
 Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; -- a vane.
 Float case Naut., a caisson used for lifting a ship.
 Float copper or Float gold Mining, fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost.
 Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop. --Raymond.
 Float stone Arch., a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface.
 Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1 (b).


 Float, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floated; p. pr. & vb. n. Floating.]
 1. To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up.
    The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground.   --Milton.
 Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast,
 I floated.   --Dryden.
 2. To move quietly or gently on the water, as a raft; to drift along; to move or glide without effort or impulse on the surface of a fluid, or through the air.
    They stretch their broad plumes and float upon the wind.   --Pope.
    There seems a floating whisper on the hills.   --Byron.


 Float, v. t.
 1. To cause to float; to cause to rest or move on the surface of a fluid; as, the tide floated the ship into the harbor.
    Had floated that bell on the Inchcape rock.   --Southey.
 2. To flood; to overflow; to cover with water.
    Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands.   --Dryden.
 3. Plastering To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the plastering is kept wet.
 4. To support and sustain the credit of, as a commercial scheme or a joint-stock company, so as to enable it to go into, or continue in, operation.

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 float
      n 1: the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank
           and its payment
      2: the number of shares outstanding and available for trading
         by the public
      3: a drink with ice cream floating in it [syn: ice-cream soda,
          ice-cream 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 hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and
         finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco [syn:
          plasterer's float]
      6: something that remains on the surface of a liquid
      v 1: 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" [syn: drift,
            be adrift, blow]
      2: be afloat; stay on a liquid surface; not sink [syn: swim]
         [ant: sink]
      3: set afloat; "He floated the logs down the river"; "The boy
         floated his toy boat on the pond"
      4: circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with; "The
         Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform"
      5: move lightly, as if suspended; "The dancer floated across
         the stage"
      6: put into the water; "float a ship"
      7: make the surface of level or smooth; "float the plaster"
      8: allow (currencies) to fluctuate; "The government floated the
         ruble for a few months"
      9: convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point
         notation; "float data"