flotation

English

Alternative forms

• floatation

Etymology

float +‎ -ation

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /floʊˈteɪʃən/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /fləʊˈteɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən
• Hyphenation: flo‧ta‧tion

Noun

flotation (countable and uncountable, plural flotations)

1. A state of floating, or being afloat.
2. The ability (as of a tire or snowshoes) to stay on the surface of soft ground or snow.
3. (mining, chemical engineering) 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. (Britain, finance) The launching onto the market of a tranche of stocks or shares, usually a new issue.

Derived terms

• personal flotation device

Translations

a state of floating

• Catalan: flotació (ca) f
• Finnish: kellunta (fi)
• French: flottaison (fr)

• Portuguese: flutuação (pt) f
• Spanish: flotación (es) f

process of separating minerals

• Bulgarian: флотация f (flotacija)
• Catalan: flotació (ca) f
• Finnish: flotaatio (fi), vaahdotus (fi)
• Russian: флота́ция (ru) f (flotácija)

• Spanish: flotación (es) f