I. ˈdifə](ˌ)kəlt sometimes -fē] or -fi]\ adjective
Etymology: back-formation from difficulty
1. : hard to do, make, or carry out : attended with or requiring effort, trouble, or painstaking : not easy : arduous
a difficult climb
a difficult task
such a situation is difficult to imagine
nesting places very difficult of access
2. : hard to deal with, manage or overcome : involving difficulties
difficult days lie ahead
a. : hard to understand : puzzling, obscure
difficult reading
a difficult text
b. : hard to approach : perverse , stubborn
a difficult child
a difficult disposition
difficult music
c. : hard to obtain or produce
getting a difficult living on worn-out lands
d. : hampering, awkward
a fine performance under difficult circumstances
e. : causing pain or embarrassment
the family had a difficult time after the father's death
Synonyms: see hard
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. obsolete : to render difficult : impede
2. chiefly Scotland : to place in difficulties : perplex