| barnacle |
a small sea animal that attaches its shell to rocks, the bottom of ships, docks, and other objects in shallow parts of the ocean. Barnacles float freely in the ocean when they are young. They develop shells with sharp edges as adults. Barnacles are kinds of crustaceans. |
| bladder |
in botany, an inflated, hollow sac or float, as is found in certain seaweeds. [1/3 definitions] |
| buoy |
a float attached by line to the bottom of a body of water to mark a location. [3 definitions] |
| buoyancy |
the capacity to float or rise to the top in a liquid or gas. |
| buoyant |
able to float or keep something else floating. [1/2 definitions] |
| duckweed |
any of various flowering plants that float freely on ponds and slow streams. |
| float |
any object that floats on water. A float is often used to hold up something else on or in the water. [1/4 definitions] |
| flotation |
any of several processes of separating and collecting various minerals from powdered ore, based on the minerals' ability to float in various liquids. [1/3 definitions] |
| fly1 |
to wave or float in the air. [2/9 definitions] |
| hang |
to be suspended or float in the air. [1/17 definitions] |
| hot-air balloon |
a bag made of thin material that is inflated with hot air, causing it to rise and float in the atmosphere. Large hot-air balloons can be attached to a basket or gondola, and used to transport people or equipment. |
| levitate |
to rise and float, apparently without hindrance from the force of gravity. [2 definitions] |
| life preserver |
a device used to help a person float in water and not drown. A life preserver is usually made in the shape of a ring, belt, or vest. |
| outrigger |
an attached float extended on a frame to one side of a boat to provide added stability, as on seagoing canoes in the South Pacific. [1/2 definitions] |
| plate tectonics |
(used with a singular verb) a theory that scientists use to explain the movement of continents, the eruption of volcanoes, and other changes or events in the earth's geology. The theory of plate tectonics says that the earth's crust is made up of separate sections that are like very large plates. These sections move around constantly because they float on melted rock. The movement of these sections of the crust causes earthquakes. |
| pontoon |
a float or boat used as support for a temporary floating bridge. [2 definitions] |
| Portuguese man-of-war |
a sea hydrozoan found in warm oceans, having a bladderlike sac that resembles a sail and allows it to float, and trailing many long stinging tentacles that may inflict severe injury. |
| raft1 |
a flat platform made of materials that can float, such as wood or barrels filled with air. Rafts are often used to carry people or goods. [2/3 definitions] |
| refloat |
combined form of float. |
| ride |
of a heavenly body, to seem to float. [1/16 definitions] |
| rotameter |
an instrument that measures the rate of flow of a liquid by means of a movable float encased in a vertical tube. |