FLOAT, n. 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.
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