Dictionary

flotation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /floʊˈteɪʃən/ (General-American)
• /fləʊˈteɪʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree English float Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English flotation From float + -ation.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A state of floating, or being afloat.
2. (countable, uncountable) The ability (as of a tire or snowshoes) to stay on the surface of soft ground or snow.
3. (countable, qualifier:chemical engineering, uncountable) A process of separating minerals by agitating a mixture with water and detergents etc; selected substances being carried to the surface in air bubbles.
4. (UK, countable, uncountable) The launching onto the market of a tranche of stocks or shares, usually a new issue.
   • This week's SpaceX flotation is just the latest sign: we are facing regime change not just in technology, but in finance. 2026 June 13, Robert Armstrong, “AI is revolutionising the stock market”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 5:

Forms

Deriveds

vibroflotation · nonflotation · reflotation · flotation therapy · flotation cost · flotation device · bioflotation · centre of flotation · personal flotation device · flotation collar · electroflotation · flotational · froth flotation · flotate · flotation tank

Synonyms

initial public offering

Translations (26)

de Flotation (process of separating minerals) · pt flotação (process of separating minerals) · it flottazione (process of separating minerals) · fi vaahdotus (process of separating minerals) · fi kellunta (a state of floating) · ca flotació (a state of floating) · id flotasi (process of separating minerals) · ro flotație (process of separating minerals) · bg флотация (process of separating minerals) · fi flotaatio (process of separating minerals) · fr flottaison (a state of floating) · pt flutuação (a state of floating) · tr yüzdürme (process of separating minerals) · pl flotacja (process of separating minerals) · de Börsengang (launching into the market) · id pengapungan (process of separating minerals) · es flotadura (a state of floating) · ca flotació (process of separating minerals) · es flotación (process of separating minerals) · tr flotasyon (process of separating minerals) · ru флота́ция (process of separating minerals) · es flotación (a state of floating) · es flotamiento (a state of floating) · de Schwimmen (a state of floating) · es flote (a state of floating) · fr flottation (process of separating minerals)