float

verb (MOVE)

/fləʊt/

/floʊt/

Definition

B1 [I or T, usually + adv/prep] to (cause to) move easily through, or along the surface of a liquid, or to (cause to) move easily through air: We spent a lazy afternoon floating down/along the river. He tossed the bottle into the waves and watched it float out to sea. The children enjoy floating their boats on the pond in the park. Fluffy white clouds were floating across the sky.figurative The sound of piano-playing floated out through the open window.Movement on or through waterMovement through the airAviationTravelling by aircraft › [I usually + adv/prep] literary to move smoothly and attractively: She sort of floats around, like a ballet dancer.Slow and moving slowly › [I usually + adv/prep] to move or act without purpose: Since he lost his job, he's just floated around/about doing nothing.Passive and not working

(Definition of float verb (MOVE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)