buoyant

[ boi-uhnt, boo-yuhnt ]
See synonyms for: buoyantbuoyantly on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. tending to float in a fluid.

  2. capable of keeping a body afloat, as a liquid.

  1. not easily depressed; cheerful.

  2. cheering or invigorating.

Origin of buoyant

1
First recorded in 1570–80; buoy + -ant

Other words for buoyant

Other words from buoyant

  • buoy·ant·ly, adverb
  • non·buoy·ant, adjective
  • non·buoy·ant·ly, adverb
  • un·buoy·ant, adjective
  • un·buoy·ant·ly, adverb

Words Nearby buoyant

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How to use buoyant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for buoyant

buoyant

/ (ˈbɔɪənt) /


adjective
  1. able to float in or rise to the surface of a liquid

  2. (of a liquid or gas) able to keep a body afloat or cause it to rise

  1. cheerful or resilient

Origin of buoyant

1
C16: probably from Spanish boyante, from boyar to float, from boya buoy, ultimately of Germanic origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012