\Float\ (fl[=o]t), n.[OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS.
flota ship, fr. fle['o]tan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet,
G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta.
[root] 84. See {Fleet}, v. i., and cf. {Flotilla}, {Flotsam},
{Plover}.]
1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid,
   as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the
   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.
             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. --Knight.
4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] --Bacon.
5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot
   deep. [Obs.] --Mortimer.
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.
   --Knight.
8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers
   for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
9. A coal cart. [Eng.] --Simmonds.
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 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}.] [OE. flotien, flotten, AS. flotian to float,
swim, fr. fle['o]tan. See {Float}, n.]
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.