different between barrier vs obstruction

English

Etymology

From Middle English barryer, barrere, barry?er, from Old French barriere (compare French barrière), from Old French barre (“bar”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?bæ?i.?(?)/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /?bæ?i.??/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /?b??i.??/
• Rhymes: -æ?i?(?)

Noun

barrier (plural barriers)

1. A structure that bars passage.

   The bus went through a railway barrier and was hit by a train.

   The bomber had passed through one checkpoint before blowing himself up at a second barrier.

2. An obstacle or impediment.

   Even a small fee can be a barrier for some students.
3. A boundary or limit.

   Few marathon runners break the three-hour time barrier.

1. (grammar) A node (in government and binding theory) said to intervene between other nodes A and B if it is a potential governor for B, c-commands B, and does not c-command A.
2. (physiology) A separation between two areas of the body where specialized cells allow the entry of certain substances but prevent the entry of others.
3. (historical) The lists in a tournament.
4. (historical, in the plural) A martial exercise of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:hindrance

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

barrier (third-person singular simple present barriers, present participle barriering, simple past and past participle barriered)

1. (transitive) To block or obstruct with a barrier.

   Synonym: bar

English

Etymology

From Latin obstructio (“hindrance”), from obstruo (“build against, block, stop”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b?st??k.??n/

Noun

obstruction (countable and uncountable, plural obstructions)

1. The act of obstructing, or state of being obstructed.
2. Something which obstructs or impedes, either intentionally or unintentionally

   Synonyms: obstacle, impediment, hindrance

3. The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death.

Synonyms

• block
• hindrance
• impedance
• roadblock
• stop
• See also Thesaurus:hindrance

Derived terms

• deobstruction

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin obstr?cti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p.st?yk.sj??/

Noun

obstruction f (plural obstructions)

1. block (something that prevents passing)
2. obstruction

Further reading

• “obstruction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Interlingua

Noun

obstruction (plural obstructiones)

1. obstruction