noun

1. the act or condition of floating; specif., the act of beginning or financing a business, etc., as by selling an entire issue of bonds, securities, etc.
2. the capacity to stay on the surface of soft material, as sand or snow: said of a tire on a motor vehicle
3. Mining a method of ore separation in which finely powdered ore is introduced into a bubbling solution to which oils are added: certain minerals float on the surface, and others sink

Etymology: earlier floatation, respelled as if < Fr flottaison