hurdle

[hur-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.

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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurdle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurdle¹

Old English hyrdel; related to Gothic haurds door, Old Norse hurth door, Old High German hurd, Latin crātis, Greek kurtos basket

Example Sentences

But they fell at the first hurdle, outgunned by Belgium in another chaotic shootout after losing 4-3 in Brussels in June.

Read more on BBC

"Metastases across the board is the highest hurdle for cancer," says Atukorale.

Read more on Science Daily

There are then several bureaucratic hurdles that need to be negotiated before the name Kruger ever disappears from tourism brochures.

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Yet truly autonomous flight with human passengers will face a host of technical and regulatory hurdles, and—perhaps the most difficult of all—a tough sell to travelers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But a revamped government program has lowered key hurdles to investment, making it easier to build assets long-term.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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