obstacle


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

ob·sta·cle

 (ŏb′stə-kəl)
n.
Something that stands in the way of or holds up progress: The road crew removed the obstacle of the fallen tree limb. We had to overcome many obstacles to put on this show.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, to hinder : ob-, against; see ob- + stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

obstacle

(ˈɒbstəkəl)
n
1. a person or thing that opposes or hinders something
2. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) Brit a fence or hedge used in showjumping
[C14: via Old French from Latin obstāculum, from obstāre, from ob- against + stāre to stand]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ob•sta•cle

(ˈɒb stə kəl)

n.
something that obstructs or hinders progress.
[1300–50; Middle English < Old French < Latin obstāculum, derivative of obstā(re) to face, block]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

obstacle

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.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.obstacle - something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmountedobstacle - 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
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

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
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

obstacle

noun
Something that impedes or prevents entry or passage:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
عُقبَةٌعَقَبَه، عائِق
překážka
forhindring
este
prepreka
akadály
hindrun
障害物
장애물
kliūčių ruožas
šķērslis
ovira
hinder
อุปสรรค
sự trở ngại

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
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

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
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

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
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

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
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

obstacle

(ˈobstəkl) noun
something which prevents progress. His inability to learn foreign languages was an obstacle to his career.
obstacle race
a race in which runners have to climb over, crawl through etc obstacles such as tyres, nets etc.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

obstacle

عُقبَةٌ překážka 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
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

obstacle

n. obstáculo,
pop. traba.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
Up to the first obstacle, the stream, he could not guide the motions of his mare.
It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.
I saw, in her face, that an obstacle which was beyond my power of removal did indeed stand between me and the dearest wish of my life.
But this obstacle could not stop Captain Nemo: he hurled himself against it with frightful violence.
The one trifling obstacle in the way was the difficulty of finding the woman.
Miss Roseberry once out of the house, but one serious obstacle is left in Lady Janet's way.
The perilous position in which she stood toward her husband--as an immovable obstacle, while she lived, between Geoffrey and Mrs.
She was too charming to deserve the name of obstacle; and as there was no other--
Monk formed the only obstacle to the re-establishment of the fallen king.
She went on slowly, taking advantage of every obstacle and shadow to keep herself concealed.
Without this unerring guide the Scarecrow and his comrades might never have gained the Emerald City; for many were the obstacles thrown in their way by the arts of old Mombi.
The Negro boy has obstacles, discouragements, and temptations to battle with that are little know to those not situated as he is.