float

S2 W2

BrE /fləʊt/ AmE /floʊt/

verb / noun en → es

past floated pp floated ing floating

1 MOVE ON WATER [intransitive] A2

to rest on the surface of a liquid, especially water

flotar

  • float on something

Collocations a boat floats on water · a leaf floats on the surface of a pond

  • The cork floated on top of the water.

    El corcho flotaba en la superficie del agua.

2 BE FREE [intransitive] B1

to be free to move around or do what you want, without being tied down by responsibilities or commitments

estar libre, no estar atado/a a algo

  • float around somewhere

Collocations to float around the house · to float around town

  • She likes to float around the city and explore.

    Ella disfruta de flotar por la ciudad y explorar.

3 BE UNCERTAIN [intransitive] B1

to be uncertain or undecided about something, to be in a state of uncertainty

estar indeciso/a, no estar seguro/a de algo

  • float between two ideas

Collocations to float between different options · to float between various possibilities

  • He's still floating between the idea of going to university and getting a job.

    Él aún flota entre la idea de ir a la universidad y conseguir un trabajo.

4 BE SUGGESTED [passive] B2

to be suggested or proposed as an idea, plan, or solution to a problem

ser sugerido/a, propuesto/a

  • be floated as something

Collocations to float an idea · to float a proposal

  • The company has floated the idea of expanding into new markets.

    La empresa ha sugerido la idea de expandirse en nuevos mercados.

1 OBJECT [noun] B1

a small object that floats on water, especially one used for decoration or as a toy in a fountain or pool

flotador, objeto que flota

  • a float

Collocations to have a float in the water · to use a float as decoration

  • She bought a pretty pink float for her swimming pool.

    Ella compró un bonito flotador rosado para su piscina.

2 PARADE [noun] B2

a large decorated vehicle or platform that is pulled along in a parade, especially during a carnival or celebration

carroza, plataforma decorada

  • a float

Collocations to pull a float in a parade · to decorate a float for a festival

  • The children were excited to see the colorful floats in the carnival parade.

    Los niños estaban emocionados de ver los coloridos carros en la parada del carnaval.

Phrasal verbs

float away DISAPPEAR B2

desaparecer, irse flotando

  • The balloon floated away into the sky.

    El globo se desvaneció en el cielo.

float off MOVE AWAY B2

marcharse, irse flotando

  • The leaf floated off in the wind.

    La hoja se deslizó en el viento.

float up RISE B2

subir, flotar hacia arriba

  • The bubbles floated up to the surface of the water.

    Las burbujas subieron a la superficie del agua.

float out EXIT B2

salir, flotar hacia afuera

  • The boat floated out into the river.

    El bote salió al río.

float down DESCEND B2

descender, flotar hacia abajo

  • The leaf floated down from the tree.

    La hoja descendió del árbol.

Idioms

float on air B2

estar en éxtasis, estar flotando de felicidad

  • She was floating on air after winning the prize.

    Ella estaba flotando de felicidad después de ganar el premio.

float a trial balloon C1

lanzar una prueba, probar algo sin comprometerse

  • The company floated a trial balloon to see how the market would react.

    La empresa lanzó una prueba para ver cómo reaccionaría el mercado.

float something by someone C1

pasar algo por alto, no prestar atención a algo

  • He floated the idea past his boss to see if it would be accepted.

    Él pasó la idea ante su jefe para ver si sería aceptada.