founder in WordNet English dictionary

1. a person who founds or establishes some institution
   "George Washington is the father of his country"
   founder  beginner  founding father  father 
   
2. a worker who makes metal castings
   founder 
   
3. inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse
   laminitis  founder 
   

1. break down, literally or metaphorically
   "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice"
   collapse  fall in  cave in  give  give way  break  founder 
   
2. fail utterly; collapse
   "The project foundered"
   fall through  fall flat  founder  flop 
   
3. sink below the surface
   founder 
   
4. stumble and nearly fall
   "the horses foundered"
   founder