barrier
gb/bˈɛɹiɚ/ us/bˈɛɹiɚ/
A2
English
~ 2700
akadály, kordon, korlát, árvízvédelmi gát, árvízvédelmi védmű
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
a barrier blocks [something]
The police set up a barrier to control the crowd.
A rendőrség kordont állított fel a tömeg irányítására.
A concrete barrier separated the two lanes of traffic.
Betonkorlát választotta el a két forgalmi sávot.
We couldn't get past the wooden barrier on the trail.
Learner examples
The road has a barrier in the middle.
Az út közepén korlát van.
They put a barrier at the park gate.
Akadályt tettek a park kapujához.
The barrier stops cars from going in.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'barrier' with 'border'. A border is the official line between areas, while a barrier is a physical object that blocks movement.
Meaning
Structure blocking movement
Collocations
security barrier
|wooden barrier
|temporary barrier
|safety barrier
|barrier gate
Synonyms
obstruction (A general term for something that blocks the way, not always physical.)
|
fence (A specific type of barrier, usually made of wood, wire, or metal, enclosing an area.)
Antonyms
opening (An empty space allowing passage, opposite of a blocking structure.)
Themes
transportation
|safety
|construction
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something like a wall or fence that stops people or things from going through.
A physical object or structure that prevents people, animals, or vehicles from moving through or entering an area.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
a barrier to [something]
Language differences can be a major barrier to communication.
A nyelvi különbségek komoly akadályt jelenthetnek a kommunikációban.
Lack of funding is a significant barrier to research.
A finanszírozás hiánya jelentős akadálya a kutatásnak.
Fear can be the biggest barrier to success.
Learner examples
A language barrier makes travel hard.
A nyelvi akadály megnehezíti az utazást.
Money can be a barrier to study.
A pénzhiány akadálya lehet a tanulásnak.
Shyness is a barrier for him to meet new people.
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'barrier' only for physical objects. In English, it is also common for abstract problems.
Meaning
Something preventing progress or contact
Collocations
language barrier
|cultural barrier
|economic barrier
|barrier to entry
Synonyms
obstacle (A general problem or difficulty that delays or stops progress.)
|
hindrance (Something that makes progress slower or more difficult.)
Antonyms
facilitator (Something that makes progress easier.)
Themes
business
|communication
|education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that makes it hard for people to work together, talk, or succeed.
A situation, condition, or factor that makes it difficult or impossible to achieve something or for people to communicate effectively.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
The city built a flood barrier along the river.
A város árvízvédelmi gátat épített a folyó mentén.
The Thames Barrier protects London from high tides.
A Temze-gát megvédi Londont a dagály okozta magas vízállástól.
Engineers are designing new barriers to cope with rising sea levels.
Learner examples
The flood barrier stopped the water.
Az árvízvédelmi gát megállította a vizet.
They built a big barrier in the sea.
Nagy gátat építettek a tengerben.
The river has a barrier to stop floods.
Meaning
Structure stopping water flow
Collocations
flood barrier
|storm surge barrier
|sea barrier
Synonyms
levee (An embankment built to prevent flooding from a river.)
|
dam (A larger structure holding back water in a reservoir.)
Antonyms
channel (An open passage that allows water to flow freely.)
Themes
environment
|engineering
|nature
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A wall or gate built to stop water from going into land.
A man-made structure designed to prevent water from flooding an area, such as a dam or levee.
Grammar
Dictionary form
barrier
IPA
GB/bˈɛɹiɚ/
US/bˈɛɹiɚ/
Syllables & stress
bar - ri - er (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bar)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: barrier
- Plural: barriers
Word family
Expressions
barrier to entry
1/bˈɛɹiɚ tə ˈɛntɹi/
fixed phrase
business
Obstacle preventing market participation
Something that makes it hard for new people or companies to start in a business area.
Examples
- High startup costs are a major barrier to entry in the tech industry.
- Government regulations can act as barriers to entry for small companies.
break down barriers
1/bɹˈeɪk dˈaʊn bˈɛɹiɚz/
idiom
Remove obstacles between people or groups
To make it easier for people to understand each other or work together by removing problems between them.
Examples
- The program aims to break down barriers between communities.
- Art can help break down cultural barriers.
language barrier
1/lˈæŋɡwɪd͡ʒ bˈɛɹiɚ/
fixed phrase
difficulty communicating due to different languages
A problem in talking because people speak different languages.
Examples
- Travelers may face a language barrier when visiting new countries.
- The language barrier made it hard to order food in the small village.
- The project was delayed because of the language barrier between teams.
- Overcoming the language barrier was their first challenge at work.