Floun"der (?), n. [Cf. Sw. flundra; akin to Dan. flynder, Icel. fly&?;ra, G. flunder, and perh. to E. flounder, v.i.] 1. (Zoöl.) A flatfish of the family Pleuronectidæ, of many species.

&fist; The common English flounder is Pleuronectes flesus. There are several common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder (P. glabra); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus); the summer flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus), Atlantic coast; and the starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus).

2. (Bootmaking) A tool used in crimping boot fronts.

Floun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Floundering.] [Cf. D. flodderen to flap, splash through mire, E. flounce, v.i., and flounder the fish.] To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll, toss, and tumble; to flounce.

They have floundered on from blunder to blunder.

Floun"der, n. The act of floundering.

• (countable)Category:Fish Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
  
• (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
  
• (intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
  
• (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.