Noun > Hurdle
1 a (count) : one of a series of barriers to be jumped over in a race
1 b the hurdles : a race in which runners must jump over hurdles
He won a medal in the high hurdles.
— usually used with a singular verb
The hurdles is his best event.
2 (count) : something that makes an achievement difficult
The company faces severe financial hurdles this year.
She overcame many hurdles (=obstacles) on her way to earning a college diploma.