# obstacle

Pronunciation: say "OB-stuh-kuhl" US /ˈɑbstəkəl/, UK /ˈɒbstəkəl/

## Noun

1. Something that impedes or holds up progress, whether a physical thing blocking the way or a difficulty standing in the way of a goal.
   - Simple: Something that blocks your way or makes it harder to do or reach something.
   - _The hikers cleared several obstacles before reaching the summit._
   - _Lack of funding remains the biggest obstacle to finishing the project on time._

## Origin

From Middle English "obstacle," borrowed from Old French "obstacle," which came from Latin "obstāculum."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/obstacle (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).