hurdle

American  

[hur-dl] / ˈhɜr dl /

noun

1. a portable barrier over which contestants must leap in certain running races, usually a wooden frame with a hinged inner frame that swings down under impact to prevent injury to a runner who does not clear it.

2. (used with a singular verb) hurdles, a race in which contestants must leap over a number of such barriers placed at specific intervals around the track.

3. any of various vertical barriers, as a hedge, low wall, or section of fence, over which horses must jump in certain types of turf races, as a steeplechase, but especially an artificial barrier.

4. a difficult problem to be overcome; obstacle.

5. Chiefly British. a movable rectangular frame of interlaced twigs, crossed bars, or the like, as for a temporary fence.

6. a frame or sled on which criminals, especially traitors, were formerly drawn to the place of execution.

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verb (used with object)

hurdled, hurdling

1. to leap over (a hurdle, barrier, fence, etc.), as in a race.

2. to master (a difficulty, problem, etc.); overcome.

3. to construct with hurdles; enclose with hurdles.

verb (used without object)

hurdled, hurdling

1. to leap over a hurdle or other barrier.

hurdle British  

/ ˈhɜːdəl /

noun

1. 1. athletics one of a number of light barriers over which runners leap in certain events

   2. a low barrier used in certain horse races

2. an obstacle to be overcome

3. a light framework of interlaced osiers, wattle, etc, used as a temporary fence

4. a sledge on which criminals were dragged to their executions

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verb

1. to jump (a hurdle, etc), as in racing

2. (tr) to surround with hurdles

3. (tr) to overcome

Other Word Forms

• hurdler noun
• unhurdled adjective

Etymology

Origin of hurdle

before 900; Middle English hirdel, hurdel (noun), Old English hyrdel, equivalent to hyrd- + -el noun suffix; compare German Hürde hurdle; akin to Latin crātis hurdle, wickerwork, Greek kýrtos basket, cage, Sanskrit kṛt spin

Example Sentences

If the bid is accepted and makes it through regulatory hurdles, the new company will own the news channel CNN, as well as CBS News, which it acquired when Paramount and Skydance merged last year.

From BBC

Experts say the formidable technical hurdles facing such Iranian ambitions give the two sides time to discuss a potential agreement to curb Tehran’s missile development.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Huang seemed to see the appeal of the idea when he looked past some of the practical hurdles.

From MarketWatch

While options exist already for individuals to open their own retirement plans through IRAs, people often get stymied by the administrative hurdles and their own inertia and fail to create such accounts, experts said.

From MarketWatch

While options exist already for individuals to open their own retirement plans through IRAs, people often get stymied by the administrative hurdles and their own inertia and fail to create such accounts, experts said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• complication
• difficulty
• handicap
• hindrance
• impediment
• snag
• stumbling block