barrier
♦ bar|ri|er /b'æriər/ (barriers)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N to/against/between n
A barrier is something such as a rule, law, or policy that makes it difficult or impossible for something to happen or be achieved.
Duties and taxes are the most obvious barrier to free trade.
= obstacle
2 [N-COUNT] oft supp N, N between pl-n
A barrier is a problem that prevents two people or groups from agreeing, communicating, or working with each other.
There is no reason why love shouldn't cross the age barrier...
When you get involved in sports and athletes, a lot of the racial barriers are broken down.
3 [N-COUNT]
A barrier is something such as a fence or wall that is put in place to prevent people from moving easily from one area to another.
The demonstrators broke through heavy police barriers...
As each woman reached the barrier one of the men glanced at her papers.
4 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A barrier is an object or layer that physically prevents something from moving from one place to another.
...a severe storm, which destroyed a natural barrier between the house and the lake...
The packaging must provide an effective barrier to prevent contamination of the product.
5 [N-SING] the N, with supp
You can refer to a particular number or amount as a barrier when you think it is significant, because it is difficult or unusual to go above it.
They are fearful that unemployment will soon break the barrier of three million...
6
see also crash barrier, sound barrierbar|ri|er meth|od (barrier methods)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Barrier methods of contraception involve the use of condoms, diaphragms, or other devices that physically prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.crash bar|ri|er (crash barriers)
[N-COUNT]
A crash barrier is a strong low fence built along the side of a road or between the two halves of a motorway in order to prevent accidents. (BRIT; in AM, use guardrail)pain bar|ri|er
[N-SING] the N
If you say that a sports player has gone through the pain barrier, you mean that he or she is continuing to make a great effort in spite of being injured or exhausted. (BRIT JOURNALISM)
England's World Cup hero is determined to play through the pain barrier.sound bar|ri|er
[N-SING] usu the N
If an aircraft breaks the sound barrier, it reaches a speed that is faster than the speed of sound.
1 [N-COUNT] oft N to/against/between n
A barrier is something such as a rule, law, or policy that makes it difficult or impossible for something to happen or be achieved.
Duties and taxes are the most obvious barrier to free trade.
= obstacle
2 [N-COUNT] oft supp N, N between pl-n
A barrier is a problem that prevents two people or groups from agreeing, communicating, or working with each other.
There is no reason why love shouldn't cross the age barrier...
When you get involved in sports and athletes, a lot of the racial barriers are broken down.
3 [N-COUNT]
A barrier is something such as a fence or wall that is put in place to prevent people from moving easily from one area to another.
The demonstrators broke through heavy police barriers...
As each woman reached the barrier one of the men glanced at her papers.
4 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A barrier is an object or layer that physically prevents something from moving from one place to another.
...a severe storm, which destroyed a natural barrier between the house and the lake...
The packaging must provide an effective barrier to prevent contamination of the product.
5 [N-SING] the N, with supp
You can refer to a particular number or amount as a barrier when you think it is significant, because it is difficult or unusual to go above it.
They are fearful that unemployment will soon break the barrier of three million...
6
see also crash barrier, sound barrierbar|ri|er meth|od (barrier methods)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Barrier methods of contraception involve the use of condoms, diaphragms, or other devices that physically prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.crash bar|ri|er (crash barriers)
[N-COUNT]
A crash barrier is a strong low fence built along the side of a road or between the two halves of a motorway in order to prevent accidents. (BRIT; in AM, use guardrail)pain bar|ri|er
[N-SING] the N
If you say that a sports player has gone through the pain barrier, you mean that he or she is continuing to make a great effort in spite of being injured or exhausted. (BRIT JOURNALISM)
England's World Cup hero is determined to play through the pain barrier.sound bar|ri|er
[N-SING] usu the N
If an aircraft breaks the sound barrier, it reaches a speed that is faster than the speed of sound.