/ əbˈstrʌkt; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to block a road, an entrance, a passage, etc. so that sb/sth cannot get through, see past, etc. :
You can't park here, you're obstructing my driveway.
First check that the accident victim doesn't have an obstructed airway.
The pillar obstructed our view of the stage.
2.
to prevent sb/sth from doing sth or making progress, especially when this is done deliberately
SYN hinder :
They were charged with obstructing the police in the course of their duty.
terrorists attempting to obstruct the peace process
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IDIOMS
- obstruct justice
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Latin obstruct- blocked up, from the verb obstruere , from ob- against + struere build, pile up.