barrier

bar·ri·er  (br-r)

n.

1. A structure, such as a fence, built to bar passage.

2. Something immaterial that obstructs or impedes: Intolerance is a barrier to understanding. See Synonyms at obstacle.

3. Physiology A membrane, tissue, or mechanism that blocks the passage of certain substances.

4. Ecology A physical or biological factor that limits the migration, interbreeding, or free movement of individuals or populations.

5. A boundary or limit.

6. Something that separates or holds apart.

7. A movable gate that keeps racehorses in line before the start of a race.

8. The palisades or fences enclosing the lists of a medieval tournament. Often used in the plural.

9. Geology An ice barrier.

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[Middle English barrer, from Old French barriere, from Vulgar Latin *barrria, from *barra, bar.]

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barrier

Noun

1. anything that blocks a way or separates, such as a gate

2. anything that prevents progress: a barrier of distrust

3. anything that separates or hinders union: a language barrier [Old French barre bar]

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A coordinated series of obstacles designed or employed to channel, direct, restrict, delay, or stop the movement of an opposing force and to impose additional losses in personnel, time, and equipment on the opposing force. Barriers can exist naturally, be manmade, or a combination of both.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement balusters, balustrade, banister, handrail, bannister - a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling barricade - a barrier (usually thrown up hastily) to impede the advance of an enemy; "they stormed the barricade" breakwater, groyne, jetty, seawall, bulwark, groin, mole - a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away bulwark - a fencelike structure around a deck (usually plural) crash barrier - a strong protective barrier that is erected around a racetrack or in the middle of a dual-lane highway in order to reduce the likelihood of severe accidents dam, dike, dyke - a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea fence, fencing - a barrier that serves to enclose an area fender, wing - a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud; "in Britain they call a fender a wing" grating, grate - a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air hurdle - a light movable barrier that competitors must leap over in certain races movable barrier - a barrier that can be moved to allow passage impedimenta, obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impediment - any structure that makes progress difficult rail, railing - a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports revetment - a barrier against explosives barricade, roadblock - a barrier set up by police to stop traffic on a street or road in order to catch a fugitive or inspect traffic etc. starting gate, starting stall - a movable barrier on the starting line of a race course
	2.	barrier - any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective; "intolerance is a barrier to understanding" roadblock obstacle, obstruction - something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan" ideological barrier - a barrier to cooperation or interaction resulting from conflicting ideologies language barrier - barrier to communication resulting from speaking different languages
	3.	barrier - anything serving to maintain separation by obstructing vision or access bar - a submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore; "the boat ran aground on a submerged bar in the river" blood-brain barrier - a mechanism that creates a barrier between brain tissues and circulating blood; serves to protect the central nervous system; "the brain was protected from the large molecules of the virus by the blood-brain barrier" curtain - any barrier to communication or vision; "a curtain of secrecy"; "a curtain of trees" mechanism - a natural object resembling a machine in structure or function; "the mechanism of the ear"; "the mechanism of infection"

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barrier

noun barricade, wall, bar, block, railing, fence, pale, boundary, obstacle, ditch, blockade, obstruction, rampart, bulwark, palisade, stockade

Translations

barrier [ˈbærɪəʳ] n → barrera (= crash barrier); barrera

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barrier [ˈbærɪəʳ] n → barrière f;

(Brit) (also: crash barrier) → rail m de sécurité

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barrier [ˈbærɪəʳ] n (at frontier, entrance) → Schranke f;

(Brit) (also: crash barrier) → Leitplanke f (fig); Barriere f: (to progress etc) → Hindernis nt

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barrier [ˈbærɪəʳ] n → barriera;

(BRIT) (also: crash barrier) → guardrail m inv

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barrier

n barrier [ˈbӕriə]

1 something put up as a defence or protection a barrier between the playground and the busy road. slagboom, versperring حاجِز преграда zábrana, bariéra, závora barrikade; afspærring die Barriere φράγμα (κτ. που στήνεται για άμυνα ή προστασία) barrera tõke مانع aita, este barrière חַיִץ, מַחֲסוֹם अवरोध barijera korlát penyekat, rintangan hindrun, tálmi barriera 障壁 방벽 barjeras, užtvara barjera; nožogojums penghalang slagboom barriere, sperre bariera, zapora barreira barieră ограждение bariéra, závora pregrada barijera barriär สิ่งกีดขวาง bariyer, engel 柵欄 бар'єр; шлагбаум ناکہ ، رکاوٹ hàng rào 栅栏

2 something that causes difficulty His deafness was a barrier to promotion. hindernis عائِق препятствие překážka hindring das Hindernis εμπόδιο, τροχοπέδη barrera, obstáculo takistus مانع este obstacle מִכְשוֹל रुकावट zapreka akadály penghambat hindrun, fyrirstaða ostacolo 障害 장애 kliūtis šķērslis; kavēklis menghalang hindernis hindring, barriere przeszkoda barreira piedică помеха prekážka ovira barijera hinder อุปสรรค engel, sorun 障礙 перешкода, завада روک trở ngại 障碍