2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Obstacle  \Ob"sta*cle\,  n.  [F.,  fr  L.  obstaculum  fr  obstare  to 
  withstand,  oppose;  ob  (see  {Ob-})  +  stare  to  stand  See 
  {Stand}.  and  cf  {Oust},  v.] 
  That  which  stands  in  the  way  or  opposes;  anything  that 
  hinders  progress;  a  hindrance;  an  obstruction,  physical  or 
  moral. 
 
  If  all  obstacles  were  cut  away  And  that  my  path  were 
  even  to  the  crown.  --Shak. 
 
  Syn:  Impediment;  obstuction;  hindrance;  difficulty.  See 
  {Impediment},  and  {Obstruction}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  obstacle 
  n  1:  something  immaterial  that  stands  in  the  way  and  must  be 
  circumvented  or  surmounted:  "lack  of  immagination  is  an 
  obstacle  to  one's  advancement";  "the  poverty  of  a 
  district  is  an  obstacle  to  good  education";  "the 
  filibuster  was  a  major  obstruction  to  the  success  of 
  their  plan"  [syn:  {obstruction}] 
  2:  an  object  that  stands  in  the  way  (and  must  be  removed  or 
  surmounted  or  circumvented) 

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