ob|sta|cle

ob|sta|cle
ob|sta|cle «OB stuh kuhl», noun.
something that stands in the way or stops progress: »

... the grim obstacle of the mountain hidden in the storm (Manchester Guardian). He overcame the obstacle of blindness and became a musician.

╂[< Old French obstacle, learned borrowing from Latin obstāculum < obstāre to block, hinder < ob- in the way of + stāre to stand]
Synonym Study Obstacle, obstruction, hindrance mean something that gets in the way of action or progress. Obstacle applies to something that stands in the way and must be moved or overcome before one can continue toward a goal: »

A fallen tree across the road was an obstacle to our car.

Obstruction applies especially to something that blocks a passage: »

The enemy built obstructions in the road.

Hindrance applies to something that holds back or makes progress difficult: »

Noise is a hindrance to studying.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cle — cle·chée; cle·oid; cle·o·me; cle·o·nus; cle·o·pat·ra; cle·ri·ci; cle·ro·den·dron; cle·ro·den·drum; cle·ro·man·cy; cle·ruch; cle·ru·chy; cle·rus; cle·thra; cle·thra·ce·ae; cle·ve s; col·li·cle; con·cep·ta·cle; con·i·cle; cor·a·cle; cor·ni·cle;… …   English syllables

  • sta — sta·tant; sta·ter; sta·tion·al; sta·tion·ar·i·ly; sta·tion·ar·i·ness; sta·tion·ary; sta·tio·ner; sta·tio·nery; sta·tion·man; sta·tis·ti·cal; sta·tis·ti·cism; sta·tis·tics; sta·tive; sta·tus; cho·le·sta·sis; con·sta·tive; gang·sta;… …   English syllables

  • ob·sta·cle — …   Useful english dictionary

  • obstacle — ob·sta·cle …   English syllables

  • 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 — 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… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • obstacle — ob|sta|cle [ abstəkl ] noun count ** 1. ) a difficulty or problem that prevents you from achieving something: Disabled people succeed in overcoming many obstacles in everyday life. Tiredness was the biggest obstacle in the way of their attempt to …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ob — ob; OB; ob·am·bu·late; ob·ben·ite; ob·clavate; ob·clude; ob·compressed; ob·conic; ob·cordate; ob·cuneate; ob·deltoid; ob·diplostemonous; ob·duce; ob·du·ra·cy; ob·e·lis·cal; ob·e·lis·coid; ob·e·lism; ob·e·lize; ob·e·lus; ob·fusc; ob·fus·ca·ble;… …   English syllables

  • obstacle — ob•sta•cle [[t]ˈɒb stə kəl[/t]] n. something that obstructs or hinders progress • Etymology: 1300–50; ME < OF < L obstāculum, der. of obstā(re) to face, block …   From formal English to slang

  • cal — abi·o·log·i·cal; adre·no·cor·ti·cal; aero·bi·o·log·i·cal; aero·chem·i·cal; aero·log·i·cal; aero·med·i·cal; aero·nau·ti·cal; aero·phys·i·cal; aero·tech·ni·cal; aes·thet·i·cal·ly; afo·cal; ag·a·tho·kak·o·log·i·cal; ag·nat·i·cal·ly;… …   English syllables

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