floating

American  

[floh-ting] / ˈfloʊ tɪŋ /

adjective

1. being buoyed up on water or other liquid.

2. having little or no attachment to a particular place; moving from one place to another.

   a floating workforce.

3. Pathology. away from its proper position, especially in a downward direction.

   a floating kidney.

4. not fixed or settled in a definite place or state.

   a floating population.

5. Finance.

   1. in circulation or use, or not permanently invested, as capital.

   2. composed of sums due within a short time.

      a floating debt.

6. Machinery.

   1. having a soft suspension greatly reducing vibrations between the suspended part and its support.

   2. working smoothly.

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floating British  

/ ˈfləʊtɪŋ /

adjective

1. having little or no attachment

2. (of an organ or part) displaced from the normal position or abnormally movable

   a floating kidney

3. not definitely attached to one place or policy; uncommitted or unfixed

   the floating vote

4. finance

   1. (of capital) not allocated or invested; available for current use

   2. (of debt) short-term and unfunded, usually raised by a government or company to meet current expenses

   3. (of a currency) free to fluctuate against other currencies in accordance with market forces

5. machinery operating smoothly through being free from external constraints

6. (of an electronic circuit or device) not connected to a source of voltage

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Other Word Forms

• floatingly adverb
• nonfloating adjective
• nonfloatingly adverb
• unfloating adjective

Etymology

Origin of floating

First recorded in 1555–65; float + -ing ²

Example Sentences

At that time, Gov. Tiff Macklem said the risk of higher energy costs spreading and lifting prices for other goods and services looked contained at present, citing excess spare capacity floating around in the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Port Talbot will become the first dedicated hub for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.

From BBC

"Sound waves exert forces on particles -- just like waves on the surface of a pond can exert forces on a floating leaf," explains Morrell.

From Science Daily

The team also explored whether Salvinia auriculata, a floating plant often considered invasive, could help clean contaminated water.

From Science Daily

The party was "committed to supporting the growth of marine energy, including floating offshore wind, while also advancing nuclear opportunities at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• soaring