adj · noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfləʊti/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈfloʊti/
General-American:[-ɾi]
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊti
1
adj
Meaning 1
Tending to float on a liquid or to rise in air or a gas; buoyant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Tending to float on a liquid or to rise in air or a gas; buoyant.
Of a ship: having a shallow draft (the depth from the waterline to the bottom of a vessel's hull), and thus drawing less (that is, floating higher in) water.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Of music: light and relaxing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of an object: light and flimsy or soft; specifically, of a dress: lightweight, so as to rise away from the body when the wearer is moving.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: gossamer
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Of a person: feeling calm, dreamy, happy, etc., as if floating in the air.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Of speech or writing: overly complicated or elaborate; flowery, grandiloquent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A particle of food, etc., found floating in liquid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
A lilo (inflatable air mattress) or similar object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
Synonym of armband (“one of a pair of inflatable plastic bands, normally worn on the upper arms, to help the wearer (often a child) float in water and learn to swim”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, in-plural, informal
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, swimming
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: armfloat, water wing, armband
Antonyms: none provided
10
adjective satellite
Meaning 10
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
buoyant balloons
buoyant balsawood boats
a floaty scarf
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: buoyant
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From float (noun or verb) + -y (suffix meaning ‘inclined to’ forming adjectives). Compare Middle English floti, floty (“of a place: well supplied with water”).
From float (noun) + -y (suffix forming diminutive nouns).
Across languages
Translations
8 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
kelluva
— tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
Old Tupi:
bebuî
— tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
Portuguese:
flutuante
— tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
Swedish:
flytande
— tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
Finnish:
leijuva
— of a person: feeling calm, dreamy, etc., as if floating through the air
Finnish:
sattuma
— particle of food, etc., found floating in liquid
Finnish:
kelluke
— object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on
Swedish:
flytring
— object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on