obstruct

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ob=struct

CIDE DICTIONARY

obstruct, v. t. [L. obstructus, p. p. of obstruere to build up before or against, to obstruct; ob (see Ob-) + struere to pile up. See Structure.].

•  To block up; to stop up or close, as a way or passage; to place an obstacle in, or fill with obstacles or impediments that prevent or hinder passing; as, to obstruct a street; to obstruct the channels of the body.  [1913 Webster]

  "'T is the obstructed paths of sound shall clear."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be, or come, in the way of; to hinder from passing; to stop; to impede; to retard; as, the bar in the harbor obstructs the passage of ships; clouds obstruct the light of the sun; unwise rules obstruct legislation.  Johnson.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To bar; barricade; stop; arrest; check; interrupt; clog; choke; impede; retard; embarrass; oppose.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

obstruct, v.tr.
1 block up; make hard or impossible to pass.
2 prevent or retard the progress of; impede.

Derivative

obstructor n.

Etymology

L obstruere obstruct- (as OB-, struere build)

THESAURUS

obstruct

arrest, backpedal, backwater, bar, barricade, beat off, bind, block, block out, block up, blockade, bolt, brake, bung, caulk, check, chink, chock, choke, choke off, choke up, clip the wings, clog, clog up, close, close off, close tight, close up, confine, congest, constipate, constrict, cork, counter, cover, crowd, curb, dam, dam up, debar, decelerate, delay, detain, dog, drag, draw rein, drive back, ease off, ease up, fend, fend off, fill, fill up, forbid, foul, halt, hamper, hinder, hold at bay, hold back, hold in check, hold off, hold up, impede, interfere with, interrupt, jam, keep at bay, keep back, keep off, lag, let down, let up, lock, lose ground, lose momentum, lose speed, make late, moderate, obstipate, occlude, pack, parry, plug, plug up, preclude, prevent, prohibit, push back, put back, rebuff, reef, rein in, relax, repel, repulse, retard, set back, shroud, shut off, shut out, shut tight, slack off, slack up, slacken, slow, slow down, slow up, spile, squeeze, squeeze shut, stall, stanch, stave off, stay, stench, stifle, stop, stop up, stopper, stopple, strangle, strangulate, stuff, stuff up, suffocate, take in sail, throttle down, turn aside, ward off

ROGET THESAURUS

obstruct

Hindrance

VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.

Closure

VB close, occlude, plug, block up, stop up, fill up, bung up, cork up, button up, stuff up, shut up, dam up, blockade, obstruct, bar, bolt, stop, seal, plumb, choke, throttle, ram down, dam, cram, trap, clinch, put to the door, shut the door.

River

VB flow, run, meander, gush, pour, spout, roll, jet, well, issue, drop, drip, dribble, plash, spirtle, trill, trickle, distill, percolate, stream, overflow, inundate, deluge, flow over, splash, swash, guggle, murmur, babble, bubble, purl, gurgle, sputter, spurt, spray, regurgitate, ooze, flow out, rain hard, rain in torrents, rain cats and dogs, rain pitchforks, pour with rain, drizzle, spit, set in, mizzle, flow into, fall into, open into, drain into, discharge itself, disembogue, pour, pour out, shower down, irrigate, drench, spill, splash, stanch, dam, up, obstruct.