hurdle noun
1 in a race
VERB + HURDLE clear, jump (over) She cleared the first few hurdles easily. | fall at, hit His horse fell at the final hurdle.
2 problem/difficulty
ADJ. big, difficult | main, major | final, first, last, next The first big hurdle in putting your car on the road is getting insurance.
VERB + HURDLE face This is perhaps the most difficult hurdle that we face. | clear, jump, overcome, pass We'll jump each hurdle as we come to it. You have already overcome the first major hurdle by passing the entrance exam. | fall at The plan fell at the first hurdle.