[hur-dl] 
noun, verb, -dled, -dling.| 1. | a portable barrier over which contestants must leap in certain running races, usually a wooden frame with a hinged inner frame that swings down under impact to prevent injury to a runner who does not clear it. |
| 2. | hurdles, (used with a singular verb ) a race in which contestants must leap over a number of such barriers placed at specific intervals around the track. Compare high hurdles, low hurdles. |
| 3. | any of various vertical barriers, as a hedge, low wall, or section of fence, over which horses must jump in certain types of turf races, as a steeplechase, but esp. an artificial barrier. |
| 4. | a difficult problem to be overcome; obstacle. |
| 5. | Chiefly British. a movable rectangular frame of interlaced twigs, crossed bars, or the like, as for a temporary fence. |
| 6. | a frame or sled on which criminals, esp. traitors, were formerly drawn to the place of execution. |
| 7. | to leap over (a hurdle, barrier, fence, etc.), as in a race. |
| 8. | to master (a difficulty, problem, etc.); overcome. |
| 9. | to construct with hurdles; enclose with hurdles. |
| 10. | to leap over a hurdle or other barrier. |
| hur·dle (hûr'dl) n.
v. tr.
To leap over a barrier or other obstacle. [Middle English hurdel, portable panel for temporary fences, from Old English hyrdel.] hur'dler n. |