The Collaborative International Dictionary
Obstruct \Ob*struct"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Obstructing.] [L. obstructus, p. p. of obstruere to build up before or against, to obstruct; ob (see Ob-) + struere to pile up. See Structure.]
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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.
'T is the obstructed paths of sound shall clear.
--Pope. -
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. ``Th' impatience of obstructed love.''
--Johnson.Syn: To bar; barricade; stop; arrest; check; interrupt; clog; choke; impede; retard; embarrass; oppose.
Wiktionary
vb. (en-past of: obstruct)
WordNet
adj. shut off to passage or view or hindered from action; "a partially obstructed passageway"; "an obstructed view"; "justice obstructed is not justice" [ant: unobstructed]
Usage examples of "obstructed".
Experiments upon living animals have proved that absorption of poisonous substances occurs, even when all communication by way of the lacteals and lymphatics is obstructed, the passage by the blood-vessels alone remaining.
Lying on the back is injurious, since by so doing the spine becomes heated, especially if the person sleeps on feathers, the circulation is obstructed and local congestions are encouraged.
Unless these excretions are removed, the glands become obstructed, their functions are arrested, and unpleasant odors arise.
In a limited number of cases supposed to be chronic nasal catarrh, we have found upon examination that one or both nasal cavities were more or less obliterated and obstructed by the deformed and thickened septum.
It may be induced by exposure to cold, in consequence of which the circulation is impeded, the pores of the skin obstructed, and all of the vitiated matters having to be expelled through the liver, stomach, and intestines.
All the streets are obstructed with building material, and this is being compacted into houses as fast as possible, to make room for more--for other people are anxious to build, as soon as they can get the use of the streets to pile up their bricks and stuff in.
Between Ole Engelstad and Fridtjof Nansen, on the other hand, it looked more promising, but as yet the first of these mountains obstructed our view so much that we could not decide with certainty.
Although his angle of view prevented him from seeing that particular street, he knew where the entourage was by the behavior of people at the one intersection not obstructed by buildings.
Monica Lewinsky or others suborned perjury, obstructed justice, intimidated witnesses or otherwise violated federal law.
Starr had reviewed several hundred pages his staff had written on the evidence, which claimed that Clinton had lied and perhaps obstructed justice.
The polls showed that a large majority of the public believed Clinton had lied and obstructed justice.
This he traced to the westward for three miles, when his course was again obstructed by land.
While the Bengal Sepoys were obstructed by obstacles which they could not surmount, the Bombay column gained an entrance.
The multitudes of course pressed to the bridges, but found their progress everywhere obstructed by police.
Looking forward to the speedy establishment of a permanent government to take the place of this, which by its greater moral and physical power will be better able to combat with many difficulties that arise from the conflicting interests of separate nations, I enter upon the duties of the office to which I have been chosen with the hope that the beginning of our career, as a Confederacy, may not be obstructed by hostile opposition to our enjoyment of the separate existence and independence we have asserted, and which, with the blessing of Providence, we intend to maintain.