Search Result for "obstacle": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted;
- Example: "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"
- Example: "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"
- Example: "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan"
[syn: obstacle, obstruction]

2. an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented); 



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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, physical or
   moral.
   [1913 Webster]

         If all obstacles were cut away.
         And that my path were even to the crown. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Impediment; obstuction; hindrance; difficulty. See
        Impediment, and Obstruction.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

obstacle
    n 1: something immaterial that stands in the way and must be
         circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an
         obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district
         is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a
         major obstruction to the success of their plan" [syn:
         obstacle, obstruction]
    2: an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or
       surmounted or circumvented)