Dictionary — ontologydriven

refloat en · NOUN

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English float English refloat From re- + float.

The process of getting something to float again.
- A small crowd on the docks watched the attempted refloat of the ship.

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
refloats	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English float English refloat From re- + float.

(transitive) To cause to float again.
- The Canadian Coast Guard says a stranded container barge has been refloated, after running aground off Quadra Island over the weekend. […] Divers have been working since the weekend to assess the damage and determine the best way to refloat the vessel. 2019 November 15, Simon Little, “Stranded container barge refloated, moved after running aground on Quadra Island”, in Global News:
- Removing fuel from the sunken ship will make it easier to refloat it.
(intransitive) To float again.
- 2025, Chloe Hughes, Boat stranded on canal hole edge pulled to safety (BBC News) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79x0vqvnq4o Overnight, water was pumped into dammed sections created by the Canal and River Trust on Tuesday, and as of 06:00 on Wednesday, water levels were recovering. "This means that one of the boats near to the breach site, plus six further up the canal, are now beginning to refloat," it [the council] said.

Spelling	Features	Source
refloats	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic
refloating	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
refloated	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
refloated	Tense=Past	lexicographic