<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>a portable barrier over which contestants must leap in certain running races, usually a wooden frame with a hinged inner frame that swings down under impact to prevent injury to a runner who does not clear it</li><li>hurdles (used with a singular verb): a race in which contestants must leap over a number of such barriers placed at specific intervals around the track</li><li>any of various vertical barriers, as a hedge, low wall, or section of fence, over which horses must jump in certain types of turf races, as a steeplechase, but especially an artificial barrier</li><li>a difficult problem to be overcome; obstacle</li><li>chiefly British: a movable rectangular frame of interlaced twigs, crossed bars, or the like, as for a temporary fence</li><li>a frame or sled on which criminals, especially traitors, were formerly drawn to the place of execution</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object):</strong></p><ul><li>hurdled</li><li>hurdling</li><li>to leap over (a hurdle, barrier, fence, etc.), as in a race</li><li>to master (a difficulty, problem, etc.); overcome</li><li>to construct with hurdles; enclose with hurdles</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object):</strong></p><ul><li>hurdled</li><li>hurdling</li><li>to leap over a hurdle or other barrier</li></ul>