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obstruct
To obstruct is to block or slow or cut off from view.
(verb)- An example of obstruct is to park a police car in the center of the street to stop traffic.
- An example of obstruct is to hide the plans to keep the construction crew from starting their work.
- An example of obstruct is what a large column does to the view from the balcony seats.
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See obstruct in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to block or stop up (a passage) with obstacles or impediments; dam; clog
- to hinder (progress, an activity, etc.); impede
- to cut off from being seen; block (the view)
Origin: < L obstructus, pp. of obstruere, to block up, build against < ob- (see ob-) + struere, to pile up: see strew
Related Forms:
- obstructer noun or obstructor
See obstruct in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb ob·struct·ed, ob·struct·ing, ob·structs
- To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle. See Synonyms at block.
- To impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder: obstructed my progress. See Synonyms at hinder1.
- To get in the way of so as to hide from sight.
Origin:
Origin: Latin obstruere, obstrūct-
Origin: : ob-, against; see ob-
Origin: + struere, to pile up; see ster-2 in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- ob·structˈer, ob·strucˈtor noun
- ob·strucˈtive adjective
- ob·strucˈtive·ly adverb
- ob·strucˈtive·ness noun
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