hurdles

hur·dle  (hûrdl)

n.

1. Sports

a. A light portable barrier over which competitors must leap in certain races.

b. hurdles A race in which a series of such barriers must be jumped without the competitors' breaking their stride.

c. A leaping step made off one foot as means of maximizing spring at the end of an approach, as to a dive.

2. An obstacle or difficulty to be overcome: the last hurdle before graduation.

3. Chiefly British A portable framework made of intertwined branches or wattle and used for temporary fencing.

4. Chiefly British A frame or sledge on which condemned persons were dragged to execution.

v. hur·dled, hur·dling, hur·dles

v.tr.

1. To leap over (a barrier) in or as if in a race.

2. To overcome or deal with successfully; surmount: hurdle a problem.

v.intr.

To leap over a barrier or other obstacle.

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[Middle English hurdel, portable panel for temporary fences, from Old English hyrdel.]

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hurdler n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

hurdles - a footrace in which contestants must negotiate a series of hurdles hurdle race, hurdling track event - a footrace performed on a track (indoor or outdoor)