obstruct

To obstruct is to block or slow or cut off from view.

(verb)

  1. An example of obstruct is to park a police car in the center of the street to stop traffic.
  2. An example of obstruct is to hide the plans to keep the construction crew from starting their work.
  3. 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

  1. to block or stop up (a passage) with obstacles or impediments; dam; clog
  2. to hinder (progress, an activity, etc.); impede
  3. 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:

See obstruct in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ob·struct·ed, ob·struct·ing, ob·structs
  1. To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle. See Synonyms at block.
  2. To impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder: obstructed my progress. See Synonyms at hinder1.
  3. 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

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Related Forms:

  • ob·structˈer, ob·strucˈtor noun
  • ob·strucˈtive adjective
  • ob·strucˈtive·ly adverb
  • ob·strucˈtive·ness noun

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