Float vs. Flow

Float vs. Flow — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Float and Flow

Floatverb

(intransitive) Of an object or substance, to be supported by a liquid of greater density than the object so as that part of the object or substance remains above the surface.

The boat floated on the water.The oil floated on the vinegar.

Flownoun

A movement in people or things with a particular way in large numbers or amounts

Floatverb

(transitive) To cause something to be suspended in a liquid of greater density.

to float a boat

Flownoun

The movement of a real or figurative fluid.

Floatverb

(intransitive) To be capable of floating.

That boat doesn’t float.Oil floats on vinegar.

Flownoun

(math) A formalization of the idea of the motion of particles in a fluid, as a group action of the real numbers on a set.

The notion of flow is basic to the study of ordinary differential equations.
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Floatverb

(intransitive) To move in a particular direction with the liquid in which one is floating

I’d love to just float downstream.

Flownoun

The rising movement of the tide.

Floatverb

(intransitive) To drift or wander aimlessly.

I’m not sure where they went... they’re floating around here somewhere.Images from my childhood floated through my mind.

Flownoun

Smoothness or continuity.

The room was small, but it had good symmetry and flow.

Floatverb

(intransitive) To drift gently through the air.

The balloon floated off into the distance.

Flownoun

The amount of a fluid that moves or the rate of fluid movement.

Turn on the valve and make sure you have sufficient flow.
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Floatverb

(intransitive) To move in a fluid manner.

The dancer floated gracefully around the stage.

Flownoun

A flow pipe, carrying liquid away from a boiler or other central plant (compare with return pipe which returns fluid to central plant).

Floatverb

To circulate.

There's a rumour floating around the office that Jan is pregnant.

Flownoun

(psychology) A mental state characterized by concentration, focus and enjoyment of a given task.

Floatverb

(of an idea or scheme) To be viable.

That’s a daft idea... it’ll never float.

Flownoun

The emission of blood during menstruation.

Tampons can be small or large, slender or thick. From “slender” to “super”, you can pick the size that matches your flow.

Floatverb

(transitive) To propose (an idea) for consideration.

I floated the idea of free ice-cream on Fridays, but no one was interested.

Flownoun

The ability to skilfully rap along to a beat.

The production on his new mixtape is mediocre but his flow is on point.

Floatverb

(intransitive) To automatically adjust a parameter as related parameters change.

Flownoun

(Scotland) A morass or marsh.

Floatverb

(of currencies) To have an exchange value determined by the markets as opposed to by rule.

The yen floats against the dollar.

Flowverb

(intransitive) To move as a fluid from one position to another.

Rivers flow from springs and lakes.Tears flow from the eyes.

Floatverb

To allow (the exchange value of a currency) to be determined by the markets.

The government floated the pound in January.Increased pressure on Thailand’s currency, the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that forced the government to float the currency.

Flowverb

(intransitive) To proceed; to issue forth.

Wealth flows from industry and economy.

Floatverb

To extend a short-term loan to.

Could you float me $50 until payday?

Flowverb

(intransitive) To move or match smoothly, gracefully, or continuously.

The writing is grammatically correct, but it just doesn't flow.

Floatverb

To issue or sell shares in a company (or units in a trust) to members of the public, followed by listing on a stock exchange.

Flowverb

(intransitive) To have or be in abundance; to abound, so as to run or flow over.

Floatverb

(transitive) To spread plaster over (a surface), using the tool called a float.

Flowverb

(intransitive) To hang loosely and wave.

a flowing mantle; flowing locks

Floatverb

(transitive) To use a float (rasp-like tool) upon.

It is time to float this horse's teeth.

Flowverb

(intransitive) To rise, as the tide; opposed to ebb.

The tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.

Floatverb

(transitive) To transport by float (vehicular trailer).

Flowverb

To arrange (text in a wordprocessor, etc.) so that it wraps neatly into a designated space; to reflow.

Floatverb

(poker) To perform a float.

Flowverb

(transitive) To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.

Floatverb

To cause (an element within a document) to float above or beside others.

Flowverb

(transitive) To cover with varnish.

Floatnoun

A buoyant device used to support something in water or another liquid.

Attach the float and the weight to the fishing line, above the hook.

Flowverb

(intransitive) To discharge excessive blood from the uterus.

Floatnoun

A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft.

Flownoun

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

Floatnoun

A float board.

Flownoun

the amount of fluid that flows in a given time

Floatnoun

A tool similar to a rasp, used in various trades.

Flownoun

the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression

Floatnoun

A sort of trowel used for finishing concrete surfaces or smoothing plaster.

When pouring a new driveway, you can use a two-by-four as a float.

Flownoun

any uninterrupted stream or discharge

Floatnoun

An elaborately decorated trailer or vehicle, intended for display in a parade or pageant.

That float covered in roses is very pretty.

Flownoun

something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously;

a stream of people emptied from the terminalthe museum had planned carefully for the flow of visitors

Floatnoun

(British) A small vehicle used for local deliveries, especially in the term milk float.

Flownoun

dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas;

two streams of development run through American historystream of consciousnessthe flow of thoughtthe current of history

Floatnoun

(finance) Funds committed to be paid but not yet paid.

Our bank does a nightly sweep of accounts, to adjust the float so we stay within our reserves limit.

Flownoun

the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause;

the women were sickly and subject to excessive menstruationa woman does not take the gout unless her menses be stoppedthe semen begins to appear in males and to be emitted at the same time of life that the catamenia begin to flow in females

Floatnoun

An offering of shares in a company (or units in a trust) to members of the public, normally followed by a listing on a stock exchange.

2006, You don't actually need a broker to buy shares in a float when a company is about to be listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. — Australian Securities and Investments Commission financial tips article, Buying shares in a float [http://www.fido.asic.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf/print/Buying+shares+in+a+float?opendocument]

Flowverb

move or progress freely as if in a stream;

The crowd flowed out of the stadium

Floatnoun

(banking) The total amount of checks/cheques or other drafts written against a bank account but not yet cleared and charged against the account.

No sir, your current float is not taken into account, when assets are legally garnished.

Flowverb

move along, of liquids;

Water flowed into the cavethe Missouri feeds into the Mississippi

Floatnoun

(insurance) Premiums taken in but not yet paid out.

We make a lot of interest from our nightly float.

Flowverb

cause to flow;

The artist flowed the washes on the paper

Floatnoun

(programming) A floating-point number, especially one that has lower precision than a double.

That routine should not have used an int; it should be a float.

Flowverb

be abundantly present;

The champagne flowed at the wedding

Floatnoun

A soft beverage with a scoop of ice-cream floating in it.

It's true - I don't consider anything other than root-beer with vanilla ice-cream to be a "real" float.

Flowverb

fall or flow in a certain way;

This dress hangs wellHer long black hair flowed down her back

Floatnoun

A small sum of money put in a cashier's till at the start of business to enable change to be made.

Flowverb

cover or swamp with water

Floatnoun

(poker) A maneuver where a player calls on the flop or turn with a weak hand, with the intention of bluffing after a subsequent community card.

Flowverb

undergo menstruation;

She started menstruating at the age of 11

Floatnoun

(knitting) One of the loose ends of yarn on an unfinished work.

Floatnoun

(automotive) a car carrier or car transporter truck or truck-and-trailer combination

Floatnoun

(transport) a lowboy trailer

Floatnoun

(tempering) A device sending a copious stream of water to the heated surface of a bulky object, such as an anvil or die.

Floatnoun

(obsolete) The act of flowing; flux; flow.

Floatnoun

A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep.

Floatnoun

A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.

Floatnoun

A coal cart.

Floatnoun

A breakdancing move in which the body is held parallel to the floor while balancing on one or both hands.

Floatnoun

(computing) A visual style on a web page that causes the styled elements to float above or beside others.

Floatnoun

the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment

Floatnoun

the number of shares outstanding and available for trading by the public

Floatnoun

a drink with ice cream floating in it

Floatnoun

an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade

Floatnoun

a hand tool with a flat face used for smoothing and finishing the surface of plaster or cement or stucco

Floatnoun

something that remains on the surface of a liquid

Floatverb

be in motion due to some air or water current;

The leaves were blowing in the windthe boat drifted on the lakeThe sailboat was adrift on the open seathe shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore

Floatverb

be afloat; stay on a liquid surface; not sink

Floatverb

set afloat;

He floated the logs down the riverThe boy floated his toy boat on the pond

Floatverb

circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with;

The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform

Floatverb

move lightly, as if suspended;

The dancer floated across the stage

Floatverb

put into the water;

float a ship

Floatverb

make the surface of level or smooth;

float the plaster

Floatverb

allow (currencies) to fluctuate;

The government floated the ruble for a few months

Floatverb

convert from a fixed point notation to a floating point notation;

float data