1. (n.) That which impedes; an obstacle; a hindrance\.

2. (n.) The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death.

afterthought arrest arrestation arrestment bar barrier bind blank wall blind alley blind gut block blockade blockage blocking bottleneck bureaucratic delay catch cecum cessation check checking choking choking off clog clogging closing up closure congestion constipation constraint constriction cordon costiveness cramp cul-de-sac curtain dead end deceleration delay delayage delayed reaction detainment detention determent deterrent difficulty double take drag dragging drawback ease-off ease-up embolism embolus fixation flagging foot-dragging forbiddance forbidding gorge halt halting hamper hampering hang-up hazard hindering hindrance hitch holdback holdup hurdle impasse impediment impeding infarct infarction inhibition interference interim interruption jam joker lag lagging let letdown letup limitation limiting logjam minus acceleration moratorium mountain negativism nuisance value objection obstacle obstipation obstructionism obstructive occlusion one small difficulty opposition paperasserie pause proscription red tape red-tapeism red-tapery repression reprieve resistance respite restraint restriction retardance retardation retardment rub sealing off setback slack-up slackening slow-up slowdown slowing slowing down slowness slowup snag squeeze stay stay of execution stop stoppage stopping stranglehold strangulation stricture stumbling block stumbling stone suppression suspension tie-up time lag wait