The difference between Float and Quay

When used as nouns, float means a buoyant device used to support something in water or another liquid, whereas quay means a stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels.

When used as verbs, float means 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, whereas quay means to land or tie up at a quay or similar structure, especially used in the phrase "quay up".


check bellow for the other definitions of Float and Quay

  1. Float as a verb (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.

    Examples:

    "The boat floated on the water."

    "The oil floated on the vinegar."

  2. Float as a verb (transitive):

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

    Examples:

    "to float a boat"

  3. Float as a verb (intransitive):

    To be capable of floating.

    Examples:

    "That boat doesn’t float."

    "Oil floats on vinegar."

  4. Float as a verb (intransitive):

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

    Examples:

    "I’d love to just float downstream."

  5. Float as a verb (intransitive):

    To drift or wander aimlessly.

    Examples:

    "I’m not sure where they went... they’re floating around here somewhere."

    "Images from my childhood floated through my mind."

  6. Float as a verb (intransitive):

    To drift gently through the air.

    Examples:

    "The balloon floated off into the distance."

  7. Float as a verb (intransitive):

    To move in a fluid manner.

    Examples:

    "The dancer floated gracefully around the stage."

  8. Float as a verb (intransitive, colloquial):

    (of an idea or scheme) To be viable.

    Examples:

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

  9. Float as a verb (transitive):

    To propose (an idea) for consideration.

    Examples:

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

  10. Float as a verb (intransitive):

    To automatically adjust a parameter as related parameters change.

  11. Float as a verb (intransitive, finance):

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

    Examples:

    "The yen floats against the dollar."

  12. Float as a verb (transitive, finance):

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

    Examples:

    "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."

  13. Float as a verb (transitive, colloquial):

    To extend a short-term loan to.

    Examples:

    "Could you float me $50 until payday?"

  14. Float as a verb (transitive, finance):

    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.

  15. Float as a verb (transitive):

    To use a float (tool).

    Examples:

    "It is time to float this horse's teeth."

  16. Float as a verb (poker):

    To perform a float.

  17. Float as a verb (computing, transitive):

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

  1. Float as a noun:

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

    Examples:

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

  2. Float as a noun:

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

  3. Float as a noun:

    A float board.

  4. Float as a noun:

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

  5. Float as a noun:

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

    Examples:

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

  6. Float as a noun:

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

    Examples:

    "That float covered in roses is very pretty."

  7. Float as a noun (British):

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

  8. Float as a noun (finance):

    Funds committed to be paid but not yet paid.

    Examples:

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

  9. Float as a noun (finance, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries?):

    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.

    Examples:

    "'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.'' — [[w:Australian Securities and Investments Commission 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]"

  10. Float as a noun (banking):

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

    Examples:

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

  11. Float as a noun (insurance):

    Premiums taken in but not yet paid out.

    Examples:

    "We make a lot of interest from our nightly float."

  12. Float as a noun (programming):

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

    Examples:

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

  13. Float as a noun:

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

    Examples:

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

  14. Float as a noun:

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

  15. Float as a noun (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.

  16. Float as a noun (knitting):

    One of the loose ends of yarn on an unfinished work.

  17. Float as a noun (automotive):

    a car carrier or car transporter truck or truck-and-trailer combination

  18. Float as a noun (transport):

    a lowboy trailer

  19. Float as a noun (tempering):

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

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Knight"

  20. Float as a noun (obsolete):

    The act of flowing; flux; flow.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Francis Bacon"

  21. Float as a noun:

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

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Mortimer"

  22. Float as a noun:

    A polishing block used in marble working; a runner.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Knight"

  23. Float as a noun (UK, dated):

    A coal cart.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Simmonds"

  24. Float as a noun:

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

  25. Float as a noun (computing):

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

  1. Quay as a noun (nautical):

    A stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels; a wharf.

  1. Quay as a verb:

    To land or tie up at a quay or similar structure, especially used in the phrase "quay up".

Compare words: