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obstacle
(redirected from obstacles)

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia 0.04 sec.
ob·sta·cle  (bst-kl)
n.
One that opposes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin obstculum, from obstre, to hinder : ob-, against; see ob- + stre, to stand; see st- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: obstacle, obstruction, bar1, barrier, block, hindrance, impediment, snag
All of these nouns refer to something that prevents action or slows progress. Obstacle applies to something that stands in the way: "We combat obstacles in order to get repose" (Henry Adams).
An obstruction makes passage or progress difficult: A sandbar is an obstruction to navigation.
Bar and barrier suggest an obstruction that confines or prevents exit or entry: "Tyranny may always enterthere is no charm, no bar against itthe only bar against it is a large resolute breed of men" (Walt Whitman). "Literature is my Utopia.... No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourse of my book friends" (Helen Keller).
Block suggests obstruction that effectively prevents all passage: I had a mental block and couldn't remember the date.
Hindrance and impediment are applied to something that interferes with or delays passage or progress: "an attachment that would be a hindrance to him in any honorable career" (Thomas Hardy). Overcrowded classrooms are an impediment to learning.
A snag is an unforeseen or hidden, often transitory obstacle: Due to a snag in plans, the project was delayed.

obstacle [ˈɒbstəkəl]
n
1. a person or thing that opposes or hinders something
2. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Horse Training, Riding & Manège) Brit a fence or hedge used in showjumping
[via Old French from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, from ob- against + stāre to stand]

Any obstruction designed or employed to disrupt, fix, turn, or block the movement of an opposing force, and to impose additional losses in personnel, time, and equipment on the opposing force. Obstacles can be natural, manmade, or a combination of both.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.obstacleobstacle - 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"
deterrent, hinderance, hindrance, impediment, balk, baulk, handicap, check - something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
roadblock, barrier - any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective; "intolerance is a barrier to understanding"
rub, hang-up, hitch, snag - an unforeseen obstacle
hurdle - an obstacle that you are expected to overcome; "the last hurdle before graduation"
stymie, stymy - a thwarting and distressing situation
2.obstacle - an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented)
hazard - an obstacle on a golf course
impedimenta, obstruction, obstructor, obstructer, impediment - any structure that makes progress difficult
stumbling block - any obstacle or impediment
water jump - a pool or stream in a steeplechase or similar contest

obstacle
noun
1. obstruction, block, barrier, hurdle, hazard, snag, impediment, blockage, hindrance She had to navigate her way round trolleys and other obstacles.
2. hindrance, check, bar, block, difficulty, barrier, handicap, hurdle, hitch, drawback, snag, deterrent, uphill (S. African), obstruction, stumbling block, impediment Overcrowding remains a large obstacle to improving conditions.
hindrance help, support, benefit, aid, advantage, asset, assistance, crutch
Translations
obstacle [ˈɒbstəkl]
A. Nobstáculo m; (= hindrance) → estorbo m, impedimento m
one of the obstacles is moneyuno de los obstáculos or impedimentos es el dinero
to be an obstacle to sth/sbser un obstáculo para algo/algn
to put an obstacle in the way of sth/sbcrear dificultades or poner obstáculos a algo/algn
that is no obstacle to our doing iteso no impide que lo hagamos
obstacles to independencelos factores que dificultan la independencia
B. CPD obstacle course Npista f de obstáculos
obstacle race N (Sport) → carrera f de obstáculos

obstacle [ˈɒbstəkəl] n
(physical)obstacle m
(= problem) → obstacle m
to overcome an obstacle → surmonter un obstacle
an obstacle to sth → un obstacle à qch
an obstacle to doing sth → un obstacle à qch
the main obstacle to ending the conflict → le principal obstacle à la fin du conflit
Colour should be no obstacle to getting a job → La couleur ne devrait pas être un obstacle à l'obtention d'un travail.
Overcrowding is an obstacle to improving conditions → La surpopulation est un obstacle à l'amélioration des conditions.
obstacle course n
(physical)parcours m du combattant
(= series of problems) → parcours m du combattant
Every day is an obstacle course at present → Chaque jour est un parcours du combattant en ce moment.
obstacle race ncourse f d'obstacles

obstacle
n (lit, fig)Hindernis nt; to be an obstacle to somebody/somethingjdm/einer Sache im Weg(e) stehen, jdn/etw (be)hindern; if they put any obstacle in the way of our planswenn man uns Steine in den Weg legt or unsere Pläne behindert; that’s no obstacle to our doing itdas wird uns nicht daran hindern; all the obstacles to progress/peace etcalles, was den Fortschritt/Frieden etc behindert

obstacle [ˈɒbstəkl] nostacolo
to be an obstacle to sb/sth → essere di ostacolo a qn/qc
to put an obstacle in the way of sb → ostacolare qn
that is no obstacle to our doing it → questo non ci impedisce affatto di farlo
obstacle [ˈɒbstəkl] nostacolo
to be an obstacle to sb/sth → essere di ostacolo a qn/qc
to put an obstacle in the way of sb → ostacolare qn
that is no obstacle to our doing it → questo non ci impedisce affatto di farlo

obstacle
n obstacle [ˈobstəkl]
something which prevents progress His inability to learn foreign languages was an obstacle to his career. hindernis, struikelblok عَقَبَه، عائِق пречка překážka forhindring das Hindernis εμπόδιο obstáculo takistus مانع este obstacle מִכשוֹל अवरोध, अटकाव zapreka akadály hambatan hindrun ostacolo 障害 장애, 방해 kliūtis šķērslis halangan hinderpaal hindring przeszkoda obstáculo ob­stacol препятствие; преграда prekážka ovira prepreka hinder อุปสรรค engel 障礙 перешкода, завада رکاوت trở ngại
obstacle race
a race in which runners have to climb over, crawl through etc obstacles such as tyres, nets etc. hinderniswedren سِباق الحَواجِز бягане с препятствия překážkový běh forhindringsløb der Hindernislauf αγώνας δρόμου μετ' εμποδίων carrera de obstáculos takistusjooks دو صحرایی با مانع estekilpailu course d'obstacles מֵרוֹץ מִכשוֹלִים बाधा दौड़ prepreka akadályverseny lari rintangan hindrunarhlaup corsa a ostacoli 障害物競争 장애물 경주 kliūčių ruožas barjerskrējiens; šķēršļu joslas pārvarēšana lumba lari berhalangan wedren met hindernissen hinderløp bieg z przeszkodami corrida de obstáculos cursă cu obstacole бег с препятствиями prekážkový beh tek čez zapreke trka s preponama hindertävling การแข่งวิบาก engelli koşu 障礙賽跑 біг з перешкодами دوڑ کا ايسا مقابلہ ميں جس شرکاء کا رکاوٹيں عبور کرنا ہو cuộc đua vượt chướng ngại vật

obstacle عقبة potíž forhindring Hindernis κώλυμα obstáculo este obstacle prepreka ostacolo 障害物 장애물 obstakel hindring przeszkoda obstáculo препятствие hinder อุปสรรค engel sự trở ngại 障碍


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