barrier
barrier — noun
1. a physical thing such as a fence, wall, gate, or even a mountain or river that s
a physical thing such as a fence, wall, gate, or even a mountain or river that stands in the way and stops people, cars, or animals from passing through.
Police set up metal barriers along the parade route to keep the crowd off the road.
set up + barriers + along + place
Gita jumped the wooden barrier at the back of the field and ran toward the river.
A line of tall hills forms a natural barrier between the two valleys.
The flood pushed against the concrete barrier but never broke through.
Stand behind the yellow barrier until the train has fully stopped.
- fence
specifically made of posts and wire or wood; barrier is broader
- barricade
usually quickly built to block a road during protests or fighting
- obstruction
more formal; emphasises that something is in the way
文法句型
put up a barrier
behind a barrier
用法筆記
Subject of 'put up' or 'set up' is usually police, workers, or organisers. The barrier here is a thing you can touch; the abstract sense is sense 3.
常見錯誤
2. a movable gate at a station or car park, often controlled by a ticket or card, t
a movable gate at a station or car park, often controlled by a ticket or card, that you walk or drive through when you enter or leave.
Dimitri tapped his travel card on the reader and the barrier slid open.
tap card + barrier slid open
Show your ticket to the guard at the barrier before you go down to the platform.
at the barrier (location)
The car park barrier stayed down because Daniel had not paid the fee.
A long queue formed at the ticket barrier during the Friday rush hour.
文法句型
go through the barrier
at the barrier
用法筆記
Common in British contexts (railway / car park). Subject is usually the gate itself, or the traveller goes 'through' it.
3. a problem, rule, attitude, or condition that stops you doing what you want to do
a problem, rule, attitude, or condition that stops you doing what you want to do, or makes a goal much harder to reach — for example a high price, a strict law, or a lack of training.
High tuition fees are still a major barrier to going to university for many families.
barrier + to + -ing
Aunt Mei said her age was the biggest barrier when she tried to change careers.
The new law removes one barrier against small businesses opening in the town centre.
Lack of childcare is a real barrier to women returning to full-time work.
Jin broke down the barrier of self-doubt and finally signed up for the marathon.
- facilitator
something that helps progress instead of blocking it
- incentive
something that pushes you towards a goal
文法句型
barrier to + noun/-ing
barrier against something
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'to + noun/-ing' or 'against + noun'. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 3 is about progress towards a goal; sense 4 is about distance between people or groups.
常見錯誤
4. something invisible — like a different language, a class difference, or a strong
something invisible — like a different language, a class difference, or a strong opinion — that keeps people apart or stops them from really understanding each other.
The language barrier made it hard for Yuki to make friends in her first month in London.
language barrier
Class barriers between rich and poor families were very strong in the old town.
barrier between A and B
Music helped break the cultural barrier between the local kids and the new students.
After the argument, an emotional barrier grew between the brothers for years.
文法句型
barrier between A and B
language/cultural barrier
用法筆記
Often pre-modified by 'language', 'cultural', 'class', or 'emotional'. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense focuses on the gap between two parties, not on stopping a single person's progress.
5. a layer of material or tissue that keeps two areas apart, or that protects one a
a layer of material or tissue that keeps two areas apart, or that protects one area from harmful things — for example a sun cream on the skin or the special cells around the brain.
Sun cream forms a thin barrier on the skin against harmful UV rays.
barrier + against + noun
The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from many drugs and toxins.
fixed term: blood-brain barrier
A thick coat of paint acts as a barrier between the wood and the rain.
The body's skin works as a natural barrier against bacteria and dirt.
文法句型
barrier between A and B
barrier against something
用法筆記
Common in scientific and product writing. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is something you can see clearly blocking passage; sense 5 is a thin protective layer that keeps substances apart.
barrier — adjective
1. describing types of birth control, such as condoms or a diaphragm, that work by
describing types of birth control, such as condoms or a diaphragm, that work by stopping sperm from physically reaching the egg.
The nurse explained that condoms are the most common barrier method of birth control.
barrier method (fixed phrase)
Doctors often recommend barrier contraception for couples who also want protection from infection.
barrier contraception
Linnea switched to a barrier method after she stopped taking the daily pill.
The clinic's leaflet listed several barrier methods, including condoms and the diaphragm.
- mechanical
older medical term for the same group of methods
- hormonal
contrast type of contraception that uses hormones, not a physical block
文法句型
barrier method
barrier contraception
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). Almost always pairs with 'method' or 'contraception'. Belongs to medical and sex-education registers.