founder

¹found·er

noun \ˈfau̇n-dər\

Definition of FOUNDER

: one that founds or establishes

Origin of FOUNDER

⁴found

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with FOUNDER

bounder, flounder, grounder, hounder, pounder, rounder, sounder

²foun·der

verb \ˈfau̇n-dər\

foun·deredfoun·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of FOUNDER

intransitive verb

1

: to become disabled; especially : to go lame

2

: to give way : collapse

3

: to become submerged : sink

4

: to come to grief : fail

transitive verb

: to disable (an animal) especially by excessive feeding

Examples of FOUNDER

1. Her career foundered, and she moved from job to job for several years.
2. trying to save a foundering career

Origin of FOUNDER

Middle English foundren to fall to the ground, sink, from Anglo-French fondrer, alteration of fondre, from Latin fundere to pour, cast, disperse, lay low, slay — more at found

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FOUNDER

Synonyms

bomb, collapse, crater, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, fail, miss, strike out, tank, wash out

Antonyms

click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out

Related Words

flounder, struggle; decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane; crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire; go under; implode, self-destruct

Near Antonyms

cook, flourish, prosper, thrive; prevail, triumph, win

³foun·der

noun

Definition of FOUNDER

: laminitis

First Known Use of FOUNDER

circa 1547

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

⁴found·er

noun

Definition of FOUNDER

: one that founds metal; especially : typefounder

Origin of FOUNDER

⁵found

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms

assay, bloom, bullion, ductile, ingot, malleable, patina, plate, temper, tensile