obstacle (redirected from obstacles)

ob·sta·cle  (bst-kl)

n.

One that opposes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress.

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[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.

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obstacle

Noun

1. a situation or event that prevents something being done: there are obstacles which could slow the development of a vaccine

2. a person or thing that hinders movement [Latin obstaculum, from ob- against + stare to stand]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	obstacle - 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" obstruction 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

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obstacle

noun 1. obstruction, block, barrier, hurdle, hazard, snag, impediment, blockage, hindrance

noun 2. hindrance, check, bar, block, difficulty, barrier, handicap, hurdle, hitch, drawback, snag, deterrent, uphill S. African obstruction, stumbling block, impediment << OPPOSITE help

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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.

Translations

obstacle [ˈɔbstəkl] n → obstáculo (= nuisance); estorbo

obstacle [ˈɔbstəkl] n → obstacle m

obstacle [ˈɔbstəkl] n (lit, fig) → Hindernis nt

obstacle [ˈɔbstəkl] n → ostacolo

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obstacle

n obstacle [ˈobstəkl]

something which prevents progress His inability to learn foreign languages was an obstacle to his career.hindernis, struikelblokعَقَبَه، عائِقпречкаpřekážkaforhindringdas Hindernisεμπόδιοobstáculotakistusمانعesteobstacleמִכשוֹלअवरोध, अटकावzaprekaakadályhambatanhindrunostacolo障害장애(물)kliūtisšķērslishalanganhinderpaalhindringprzeszkodaobstáculoob­stacolпрепятствие; преградаprekážkaovirapreprekahinderอุปสรรคengel障礙перешкода, завадаرکاوتtrở ngại障碍

obstacle race

a race in which runners have to climb over, crawl through etc obstacles such as tyres, nets etc. hinderniswedrenسِباق الحَواجِزбягане с препятствияpřekážkový běhforhindringsløbder Hindernislaufαγώνας δρόμου μετ' εμποδίωνcarrera de obstáculostakistusjooksدو صحرایی با مانعesteratajuoksucourse d'obstaclesמֵרוֹץ מִכשוֹלִיםबाधा दौड़preprekaakadályversenylari rintanganhindrunarhlaupcorsa a ostacoli障害物競争장애물 경주kliūčių ruožasbarjerskrējiens; šķēršļu joslas pārvarēšanalumba lari berhalanganwedren met hindernissenhinderløpbieg z przeszkodamicorrida de obstáculoscursă cu obstacoleбег с препятствиямиprekážkový behtek čez zapreketrka s preponamahindertävlingการแข่งวิบากengelli koşu障礙賽跑біг з перешкодамиدوڑ کا ايسا مقابلہ ميں جس شرکاء کا رکاوٹيں عبور کرنا ہوcuộc đua vượt chướng ngại vật障碍赛跑