1. That which swims or is borne on water; as a float of weeds and rushes. but particularly, a body or collection of timber, boards or planks fastened together and conveyed down a stream; a raft. [The latter word is more generally used in the United States.]
2. The cork or quill used on an angling line, to support it and discover the bite of a fish.
3. The act of flowing; flux; flood; the primary sense, but obsolete.
4. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one deep.
5. A wave. [L. fuctus.]
FLOAT, v.i. [L. fluo, to flow.]
1. To be borne or sustained on the surface of a fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up; not to sink; not to be aground. We say, the water is so shallow, the ship will not float.
2. To move or be conveyed on water; to swim. The raft floats down the river.
Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated.
3. To be buoyed up and moved or conveyed in a fluid, as in air.
They stretch their plumes and float upon the wind.
4. To move with a light irregular course.
FLOAT, v.t.
1. To cause to pass by swimming; to cause to be conveyed on water. The tide floated the ship into the harbor.
2. To flood; to inundate; to overflow; to cover with water.
Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands.
