Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

Foundering

 - 6 dictionary results

foun⋅der

2  [foun-der]
Use Foundering in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. (of a ship, boat, etc.) to fill with water and sink.
2. to fall or sink down, as buildings, ground, etc.: Built on a former lake bed, the building has foundered nearly ten feet.
3. to become wrecked; fail utterly: The project foundered because public support was lacking.
4. to stumble, break down, or go lame, as a horse: His mount foundered on the rocky path.
5. to become ill from overeating.
6. Veterinary Pathology. (of a horse) to suffer from laminitis.
–verb (used with object)
7. to cause to fill with water and sink: Rough seas had foundered the ship in mid-ocean.
8. Veterinary Pathology. to cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis.
–noun
9. Veterinary Pathology. laminitis.
Origin:
1300–50; ME foundren < MF fondrer to plunge to the bottom, submerge < VL *fundorāre, deriv. of *fundor-, taken as s. of L fundus bottom

Synonyms:
3. collapse, perish, succumb, topple, sink; flop.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Foundering
foun·der 1   (foun'dər)   
v.   foun·dered, foun·der·ing, foun·ders

v.   intr.

  1. To sink below the surface of the water: The ship struck a reef and foundered.

  2. To cave in; sink: The platform swayed and then foundered.

  3. To fail utterly; collapse: a marriage that soon foundered.

  4. To stumble, especially to stumble and go lame. Used of horses.

  5. To become ill from overeating. Used of livestock.

  6. To be afflicted with laminitis. Used of horses.

v.   tr.
To cause to founder.
n.  See laminitis.

[Middle English foundren, to sink to the ground, from Old French fondrer, from Vulgar Latin *funderāre, from *fundus, *funder-, bottom, from Latin fundus, fund-.]
Usage Note: The verbs founder and flounder are often confused. Founder comes from a Latin word meaning "bottom" (as in foundation) and originally referred to knocking enemies down; it is now also used to mean "to fail utterly, collapse." Flounder means "to move clumsily, thrash about," and hence "to proceed in confusion." If John is foundering in Chemistry 1, he had better drop the course; if he is floundering, he may yet pull through.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

founder  (v.)
c.1330, from O.Fr. fondrer "submerge, fall to the bottom," from fond "bottom," from L. fundus "bottom, foundation" (see fund (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: found·er
Function: noun
: one that founds or establishes: as a : one that establishes a foundation b : FOUNDING FATHER
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2foun·der
Function: noun
: LAMINITIS
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

founder foun·der (foun'dər)
v. foun·dered, foun·der·ing, foun·ders

  1. To stumble, especially to stumble and go lame. Used of horses.

  2. To become ill from overeating. Used of livestock.

  3. To be afflicted with laminitis. Used of horses.

n.
See laminitis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Foundering on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way