hurdle

hurdle
hurdler, n.
/herr"dl/, n., v., hurdled, hurdling.
n.
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. hurdles, (used with a sing. v.) a race in which contestants must leap over a number of such barriers placed at specific intervals around the track. Cf. high hurdles, low hurdles.
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 esp. an artificial barrier.
4. a difficult problem to be overcome; obstacle.
5. Chiefly Brit. 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, esp. traitors, were formerly drawn to the place of execution.
v.t.
7. to leap over (a hurdle, barrier, fence, etc.), as in a race.
8. to master (a difficulty, problem, etc.); overcome.
9. to construct with hurdles; enclose with hurdles.
v.i.
10. to leap over a hurdle or other barrier.
[bef. 900; ME hirdel, hurdel (n.), OE hyrdel, equiv. to hyrd- + -el n. suffix; cf. G Hürde hurdle; akin to L cratis hurdle, wickerwork, Gk kýrtos basket, cage, Skt krt spin]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Hurdle — Hur dle, n. [OE. hurdel, hirdel, AS. hyrdel; akin to D. horde, OHG. hurt, G. h[ u]rde a hurdle, fold, pen, Icel. hur? door, Goth. ha[ u]rds, L. cratis wickerwork, hurdle, Gr. ?, Skr. k?t to spin, c?t to bind, connect. [root]16. Cf. {Crate},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hurdle — UK US /ˈhɜːdl/ noun [C] ► a problem that you must solve or deal with before you can make progress: face/overcome a hurdle » The first hurdle she faced entering the job market was one of confidence. a hurdle to sth »Lack of preparation and lack of …   Financial and business terms

  • hurdle — ► NOUN 1) one of a series of upright frames which athletes in a race must jump over. 2) (hurdles) a hurdle race. 3) an obstacle or difficulty. 4) a portable rectangular frame used as a temporary fence. ► VERB 1) run in a hurdle race …   English terms dictionary

  • hurdle — [n] barrier, obstacle bar, barricade, blockade, complication, difficulty, fence, hamper, handicap, hedge, hindrance, impediment, interference, mountain, obstruction, rub, snag, stumbling block, traverse, wall; concepts 470,674 Ant. clear path,… …   New thesaurus

  • hurdle — [hʉrd′ l] n. [ME hirdel < OE hyrdel < Gmc base * hurd , wickerwork, hurdle, akin to hyrd, door, Frank * hurda, a pen, fold < IE base * kert , to plait, twist together > L cratis (see CRATE), Gr kyrtos, bird cage] 1. Chiefly Brit. a… …   English World dictionary

  • Hurdle — Hur dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hurdleed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hurdleing}.] To hedge, cover, make, or inclose with hurdles. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hurdle — index bar (obstruction), barrier, deterrence, deterrent, encumbrance, handicap, negotiate, obstacle …   Law dictionary

  • hurdle — noun 1 in a race VERB + HURDLE ▪ clear, jump, jump over ▪ She cleared the first few hurdles easily. ▪ fall at (esp. BrE), hit (esp. BrE) ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • hurdle — {{11}} O.E. hyrdel frame of intertwined twigs used as a temporary barrier, dim. of hyrd door, from P.Gmc. *hurdiz wickerwork frame, hurdle (Cf. O.S. hurth plaiting, netting, Du. horde wickerwork, Ger. Hürde hurdle, fold, pen; O.N. hurð, Goth.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • hurdle — I UK [ˈhɜː(r)d(ə)l] / US [ˈhɜrd(ə)l] noun Word forms hurdle : singular hurdle plural hurdles 1) a) [countable] an upright frame that a person or horse must jump over during a race. The sport of racing over hurdles is called hurdling, and a person …   English dictionary

  • Hurdle — A hurdle is a moveable section of light fence. Traditionally they were made from wattle (woven split branches), but modern hurdles are often made of metal. Hurdles are used for handling livestock, as decorative fencing, for horse racing and in… …   Wikipedia

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