I. hur ‧ dle 1 /ˈhɜːdl $ ˈhɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hyrdel ]
1 . [countable] a problem or difficulty that you must deal with before you can achieve something SYN obstacle :
Finding enough money for the project was the first hurdle.
overcome/clear/get over etc a hurdle (=deal successfully with a problem)
2 . [countable] one of a series of small fences that a person or horse has to jump over during a race
clear a hurdle (=successfully jump over a hurdle)
3 . the 100-metres/400-metres hurdles a race in which the runners have to jump over hurdles
II. hurdle 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to jump over something while you are running:
He hurdled the fence and ran off down the street.
2 . [intransitive] to run in hurdle races
—hurdler noun [countable]
—hurdling noun [uncountable]