Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - hurdle

~1 n 1 a frame that a person or horse has to jump over during a race  (clear a hurdle (=successfully jump over a hurdle)) 2 a problem or difficulty that you must deal with before you can achieve something  (Finding enough money was the first hurdle. | clear a hurdle (=deal successfully with a problem)) 3 the 100 metres/400 metres hurdles a race in which the runners have to jump over hurdles 4 a moveable part of a temporary fence around animals or land ~2 v 1 to jump over something while you are running  (Barrett hurdled the fence and ran off down the street.) 2 to run in hurdle races - hurdler n - hurdling n hurdy-gurdy ~ n a small musical instrument that you operate by turning a handle