Part 4396

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A float board. See <cref>Float board</cref> (below).</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Tempering)</fld> <def>A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die.</def>

<i>Knight.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>The act of flowing; flux; flow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Mortimer.</i>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Plastering)</fld> <def>The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.</def>

<i>Knight.</i>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>A coal cart.</def> <mark>[Eng.]</mark>

<i>Simmonds.</i>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>The sea; a wave. See <er>Flote</er>, <tt>n.</tt></def>

<cs><col>Float board</col>, <cd>one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; -- a vane.</cd> -- <col>Float case</col> <fld>(Naut.)</fld>, <cd>a caisson used for lifting a ship.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Float</col> <col>copper &or; gold</col></mcol> <fld>(Mining)</fld>, <cd>fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost.</cd> -- <col>Float ore</col>, <cd>water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop.</cd> <i>Raymond.</i> -- <col>Float stone</col> <fld>(Arch.)</fld>, <cd>a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface.</cd> -- <col>Float valve</col>, <cd>a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See <er>Float</er>, 1 (<it>b<it>).</cd></cs>

<h1>Float</h1> <Xpage=571>

<hw>Float</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Floated</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Floating</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>flotien</ets>, <ets>flotten</ets>, AS. <ets>flotian</ets> to float, swim, fr. <ets>fle\'a2tan</ets>. See <er>Float</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up.</def>

<blockquote>The ark no more now <b>floats</b>, but seems on ground. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I <b>floated</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>They stretch their broad plumes and <b>float</b> upon the wind. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>There seems a <b>floating</b> whisper on the hills. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Float</h1> <Xpage=571>

<hw>Float</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cause to float; to cause to rest or move on the surface of a fluid; <as>as, the tide <ex>floated</ex> the ship into the harbor</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Had <b>floated</b> that bell on the Inchcape rock. <i>Southey.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To flood; to overflow; to cover with water.</def>

<blockquote>Proud Pactolus <b>floats</b> the fruitful lands. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Plastering)</fld> <def>To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the plastering is kept wet.</def>