hurdle

Noun · Verb
US[hur-duhl]/ˈhɝdəl/2 syllables
Synonyms: vault

Open English WordNet

Verb (1)hurdles

  1. jump a hurdleMore general vault, overleap

Noun (3)hurdles

  1. a light movable barrier that competitors must leap over in certain racesType of barrier
  2. an obstacle that you are expected to overcome“the last hurdle before graduation”Type of obstacle, obstruction
  3. the act of jumping over an obstacleSynonyms: vaultType of jump, jumping

Related words vault noun, hurdler noun, hurdle race noun, overleap verb

Word of the day · Nov 10About this word
hiatusnoun

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Hur′dle noun

Origin: OE. hurdel, hirdel, AS. hyrdel; akin to D. horde, OHG. hurt, G. hürde a hurdle, fold, pen, Icel. hur… door, Goth. haúrds, L. cratis wickerwork, hurdle, Gr. …, Skr. k…t to spin, c…t to bind, connect. √16. Cf. Crate, Grate, noun

1. A movable frame of wattled twigs, osiers, or withes and stakes, or sometimes of iron, used for inclosing land, for folding sheep and cattle, for gates, etc.; also, in fortification, used as revetments, and for other purposes.

2. In England, a sled or crate on which criminals were formerly drawn to the place of execution. Francis, Baron Verulam Bacon

3. An artificial barrier, variously constructed, over which men or horses leap in a race.

Hurdle race, a race in which artificial barriers in the form of hurdles, fences, etc., must be leaped.

Hur′dle transitive verb [past tense & past participle Hurdleed; present participle & verbal noun Hurdleing.]

To hedge, cover, make, or inclose with hurdles. John Milton

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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