floating
UK: ˈfləʊtɪŋ | US: ˈfloʊtɪŋ
adj. 1. resting or moving on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
adj. 2. not fixed in place; drifting or suspended.
adj. 3. (finance) of a currency or interest rate: fluctuating according to market conditions.
The word "floating" derives from the Old English "flotian," meaning "to rest on the surface of water," which is related to the Proto-Germanic "*flutōną." The root "float" retains its core meaning of buoyancy or suspension, while the suffix "-ing" transforms it into an adjective or gerund. The concept evolved metaphorically to describe anything unanchored or variable, such as floating currencies or ideas.
The leaves were floating gently on the pond.
She felt a sense of floating weightlessness in the pool.
The astronaut experienced floating in zero gravity.
The government adopted a floating exchange rate system.
His mind was floating between sleep and wakefulness.