obstacle

n 1: something immaterial that stands in the way and must be

circumvented or surmounted: "lack of immagination is an

obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a

district is an obstacle to good education"; "the

filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of

their plan" [syn: {obstruction}]

2: an object that stands in the way (and must be removed or

surmounted or circumvented)