floating

[ floh-ting ]

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.

floating

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈfloatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• floating·ly adverb
• non·floating adjective
• non·floating·ly adverb
• un·floating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of floating¹

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

Example Sentences

A body found floating in the Dominguez Channel in Carson in July is that of a missing grandmother.

From Los Angeles Times

He shows me the video he took from his apartment as floating cars were hurled against the walls below him.

From BBC

His work has been projected on buildings, moving train cars and floating barges.

From Los Angeles Times

Apart from the fact that Marx described the ship as “a floating petri dish,” the duo had a blast.

From Los Angeles Times

As she left the house and closed the door, Phillips saw embers floating into the home.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• soaring