obstacle

obstacle
ob|sta|cle [ˈɔbstəkəl US ˈa:b-] n
[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin obstaculum, from obstare 'to stand in the way, stand in front of']
1.) something that makes it difficult to achieve something
obstacle to
Fear of change is an obstacle to progress.
The tax puts obstacles in the way of companies trying to develop trade overseas.
Women still have to overcome many obstacles to gain equality.
We want to remove all obstacles to travel between the two countries.
the single biggest obstacle to a Conservative victory in the next election
There are formidable obstacles on the road to peace.
2.) an object which blocks your way, so that you must try to go around it
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COLLOCATES for sense 1
put/place obstacles in the way (of something)
overcome an obstacle
remove an obstacle
main/biggest/greatest obstacle
major/serious obstacle
insuperable obstacle (=one that makes it impossible to achieve something)
formidable obstacle (=a very difficult obstacle)
legal obstacle
political obstacle
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Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • obstacle — [ ɔpstakl ] n. m. • 1220; lat. obstaculum, de obstare « se tenir (stare) devant » 1 ♦ Ce qui s oppose au passage, gêne le mouvement. Le vent « ne rencontre aucun obstacle naturel sur le plateau » (Camus). « la voiture fit un écart pour ne pas… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Obstacle 1 — «Obstacle 1» Сингл I …   Википедия

  • Obstacle 1 — Single by Interpol from the album Turn On the Bright Lights Released November 11, 2002 September 15, 2003 (Reissue) …   Wikipedia

  • Obstacle — to traffic caused by a collapse in highway 140, in Ferguson, state of California (USA), on 21 April 2008 02:36:01 PM PDT An obstacle (also called a barrier or a stumbling block) is an object, thing, action or situation that causes an obstruction …   Wikipedia

  • obstacle — OBSTACLE. s. m. Empeschement, opposition, ce qui empesche qu une chose ne soit, ne se fasse, ne reüssisse. Grand obstacle. obstacle invincible. vaincre un obstacle. surmonter un obstacle. former des obstacles. faire naistre un obstacle, des… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • obstacle — obstacle, obstruction, impediment, bar, snag denote something which seriously hampers action or progress. Obstacle, which is used of both material and immaterial things, applies to an object, condition, or situation which stands in one s way and… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • obstacle — [äb′stə kəl] n. [OFr < L obstaculum, obstacle < obstare, to withstand < ob (see OB ) + stare, to STAND] anything that gets in the way or hinders; impediment; obstruction; hindrance SYN. OBSTACLE is used of anything which literally or… …   English World dictionary

  • obstacle — (n.) mid 14c., from O.Fr. obstacle, ostacle hindrance (13c.), from L. obstaculum a hindrance, obstacle, with instrumental suffix * tlom + obstare stand opposite to, block, hinder, from ob against (see OB (Cf. ob )) + stare to stand, from PIE …   Etymology dictionary

  • Obstacle — Ob sta*cle, n. [F., fr. L. obstaculum, fr. obstare to withstand, oppose; ob (see {Ob }) + stare to stand. See {Stand}. and cf. {Oust}, v.] That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • obstacle — I noun arrest, balk, barricade, barrier, block, bridle, catch, check, constraint, curb, dam, delay, detainment, difficulty, disallowance, drawback, embargo, enjoining, estoppel, fence, forbiddance, hamper, handicap, hindrance, hurdle, impediment …   Law dictionary

  • obstacle — [n] impediment, barrier bar, block, booby trap*, bump*, catch, Catch 22*, check, clog*, crimp*, difficulty, disincentive, encumbrance, hamper, handicap, hang up*, hardship, hindrance, hitch*, hurdle, interference, interruption, joker*, monkey… …   New thesaurus

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