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

But agonisingly he fell at the last hurdle in 2021 as he attempted to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete a calendar Grand Slam.

From Barron's

The next big hurdle will be Germany’s naval Enigma, which has four rotors and fiendishly complex procedures.

From Literature

It hit another legal hurdle this month when a state appeals court rejected the state’s plan to finance the 45-mile tunnel.

From Los Angeles Times

The union proposing it has to clear several hurdles, including the necessary signatures, to make November’s ballot.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are also several hurdles supporters would need to overcome.

From BBC

Related Words

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