1. A person who founds or establishes some institution
   "George Washington is the founder of his country";
   - founding father, father
    
2. A worker who makes metal castings
   "The founder carefully poured the molten metal into the mould"
    
3. Inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse
   "The veterinarian treated the horse's founder with anti-inflammatory medication";
   - laminitis

1. Fail utterly; collapse
   "The project foundered";
   - fall through, fall flat, flop, go to the wall [informal], come to nothing
    
2. Break down, literally or metaphorically
   "The wall foundered";
   - collapse, fall in, cave in, give, give way, break
    
3. Sink below the surface
   "The ship foundered in the storm"
    
4. Stumble and nearly fall
   "the horses foundered"

Derived forms: founders, foundering, foundered

See also: fall

Type of: change, conceiver, fail, go down, go under, go wrong, inflammation, mastermind, miscarry, originator, redness, rubor [rare], settle, sink, skilled worker, stumble, trained worker, trip

Encyclopedia: Founder