flounder
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology 1
From Old Norse flyðra[1][2]. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.
[edit] Noun
flounder (plural flounders or flounder)
- A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder, Platichthys flesus.
- (countable, North America) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
[edit] Translations
Platichthys flesus
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any flatfish
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[edit] External links
[edit] Etymology 2
[edit] Verb
flounder (third-person singular simple present flounders, present participle floundering, simple past and past participle floundered)
- (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
- (intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
- Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.
- (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
- He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
- 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, Virago Press, paperback edition, page 136
- He is assessing directions, but he is not lost, not floundering.
[edit] Usage notes
Frequently confused with the verb founder. The difference is one of severity; floundering (struggling to maintain a position) comes before foundering (losing it completely by falling, sinking or failing).
[edit] Translations
to flop around
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to attempt to move or regain one's balance
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to act clumsily or confused
[edit] References
- ^ “flounder” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
- ^ “flynder” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog