flo·ta·tion

[floh-tey-shuhn]
noun
1.
an act or state of floating.
2.
the launching of a commercial venture, bond issue, loan, etc.
3.
Metallurgy. a process for separating the different minerals in a mass of powdered ore based on their tendency to sink in, or float on, a given liquid.
4.
the science of floating bodies.
Also, floatation.


Origin:
1800–10; float + -ation; compare French flottaison (see flotsam)

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Flotation is always a great word to know.
So is friction. Does it mean:
surface resistance to relative motion, as of sliding or rolling.
the product of the mass and velocity of an object
Collins
World English Dictionary
flotation or floatation (fləʊˈteɪʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a.  the launching or financing of a commercial enterprise by bond or share issues
 b.  the raising of a loan or new capital by bond or share issues
2.  power or ability to float; buoyancy
3.  Also called: froth flotation a process to concentrate the valuable ore in low-grade ores. The ore is ground to a powder, mixed with water containing surface-active chemicals, and vigorously aerated. The bubbles formed trap the required ore fragments and carry them to the surface froth, which is then skimmed off
 
floatation or floatation
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

flotation
1850s, from float + -ation. Spelling influenced by French (cf. floatation).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

flotation flo·ta·tion (flō-tā'shən)
n.
The process of separating different materials, especially minerals, by agitating a pulverized mixture of the materials with water, oil, and chemicals. Differential wetting of the suspended particles causes unwetted particles to be carried by air bubbles to the surface for collection.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Fishing permits, a boat and personal flotation devices are included in the
  rental price.
Each life jacket should be checked periodically to be sure that it can still
  provide adequate flotation for the wearer.
Others may not be able to count on reaching enough investors to make an auction
  flotation a success.
These would later be replaced by a permanent flotation system.
Images for flotation
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