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intr.v. floun·dered, floun·der·ing, floun·ders 1. To move clumsily or with little progress, as through water or mud. See Synonyms at blunder. 2. To act or function in a confused or directionless manner; struggle: "Some ... floundered professionally, never quite deciding what they wanted to do" (Steve Olson). See Usage Note at founder1. n. The act of floundering. [Probably alteration of FOUNDER1.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. pl. flounder or floun·ders Any of various marine flatfishes chiefly of the families Bothidae and Pleuronectidae, including several important food fishes. [Middle English, from Anglo-Norman floundre, of Scandinavian origin; see plat- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) flounder2peacock flounder Bothus mancus |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
