(1) 障碍(物)，屏障 (thing that is put up or built to prevent or control progress or movement)[C]：be on different sides of a high～处于一很高的障碍物的两边;put up～s to keep back the crowd设置障碍以挡住人群;show one's ticket at the～在栅栏口出示票;(horse) leap over the wooden～(马)跃过木障;The English channel was a～against Nazi ground forces.英吉利海峡曾是挡住纳粹陆军的屏障。Deserts/Mountains are a～to the movement of people.沙漠/大山是人们行动的障碍。～cream护肤膏;〖同〗obstacle，bar，block;〖反〗entrance，opening，passage;

(2) 障(阻)碍 (sth that causes difficulty) [C] (fig)：Poor health/Lack of money may be a～to educational progress. 身体不好/缺钱会是提高教育水平的障碍。Not knowing a foreign language may be a～to enjoying travel abroad.不懂外语会是享受出国旅行乐趣的障碍。Lack of education can be a～to success/progress. 受教育不够可能成为成功/进步的障碍。Pollution is a～to future economic growth.污染是影响未来经济发展的障碍。find one's deafness a～to promotion 发现自己耳聋成了提升的障碍;The bitterness of their quarrel caused a～between the former friends. 不愉快的争吵使两个老朋友间产生了隔阂。trade～s against imported goods 进口贸易壁垒;〖同〗obstacle;〖反〗aid，help，advantage;

(3) 隔阂(离)物 (thing that keeps people apart)[C]：～s of race/religion种族/宗教隔阂;the language～语言隔阂;break down the old～s between the two parties 打破两党间以往形成的隔阂;

【辨异】barrier与bar和barricade的区别见BAR。