flotation

flo·ta·tion

noun \flō-ˈtā-shən\

Definition of FLOTATION

1

: the act, process, or state of floating

2

: an act or instance of financing (as an issue of stock)

3

: the separation of the particles of a mass of pulverized ore according to their relative capacity for floating on a given liquid; also : any of various similar processes involving the relative capacity of materials for floating

4

: the ability (as of a tire or snowshoes) to stay on the surface of soft ground or snow

Variants of FLOTATION

flo·ta·tion also floa·ta·tion \flō-ˈtā-shən\

Examples of FLOTATION

1. fills the tanks with air for flotation
2. the flotation of a currency

Origin of FLOTATION

²float

First Known Use: 1806

Rhymes with FLOTATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, formation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, mutation, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, sensation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, vocation, way station, workstation

flotation

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Most widely used process for extracting many minerals from their ores. The method separates and concentrates ores by altering their surfaces so that they are either repelled or attracted by water. Unwetted particles, which adhere to air that is bubbled through the water, will float in the froth, while wetted particles will sink. The process was developed on a commercial scale early in the 20th century to remove very fine mineral particles that formerly had gone to waste in gravity concentration plants. With its use to concentrate copper, lead, and zinc minerals, which commonly accompany one another in their ores, many complex ore mixtures formerly of little value have become major sources of certain metals.

Variants of FLOTATION

flotation or froth flotation