Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin obstaculum, from obstare 'to stand in the way, stand in front of'

obstacle

 noun
     
ob‧sta‧cle [countable]
1 something that makes it difficult to achieve somethingCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
put/place obstacles in the way (of something) overcome an obstacle remove an obstacle main/biggest/greatest obstacle major/serious obstacle insuperable obstacle (=one that makes it impossible to achieve something) formidable obstacle (=a very difficult obstacle) legal obstacle political obstacle
obstacle to
Fear of change is an obstacle to progress.
The tax puts obstacles in the way of companies trying to develop trade overseas.
Women still have to overcome many obstacles to gain equality.
We want to remove all obstacles to travel between the two countries.
the single biggest obstacle to a Conservative victory in the next election
There are formidable obstacles on the road to peace.
2 an object which blocks your way, so that you must try to go around it
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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