{
    "term": "barrier",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "an object like a fence that prevents people from moving forward from one place to another",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The crowd had to stand behind barriers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Concrete barriers were erected around the site."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The crowd managed to break through the barriers and get onto the pitch."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The car crashed into the safety barrier and burst into flames."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The police waited behind the barriers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sightseers watched from the other side of the security barriers."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["physical", "crash", "crush"],
                "verb + barrier": ["build", "erect", "install"],
                "preposition": [
                    "at a/​the barrier",
                    "behind a/​the barrier",
                    "through a/​the barrier"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a gate at a car park or railway station that controls when you may go through by being raised or lowered",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Scan your ticket at the barrier and it will automatically lift."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a slow trickle of people through the barriers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She got her luggage stuck in the automatic barrier."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a problem, rule or situation that prevents somebody from doing something, or that makes something impossible",
            "sensetop": "barrier to somethingbarrier against something",
            "labels": "(US English)(British English)(North American English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the removal of **trade barriers**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to overcome/break down barriers"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the **language barrier** *(= when people cannot communicate because they do not speak the same language)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lack of confidence is a psychological barrier to success.",
                    "contextForm": "barrier to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The old laws created barriers to free trade."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The country has removed barriers against imports.",
                    "contextForm": "barrier against something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The world of Disney is a magical experience that knows no age barriers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Cost should not be a barrier to the use of legal services."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lack of a common language was a formidable barrier to communication."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There has been a gradual reduction in subsidies and trade barriers."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["effective", "formidable", "major"],
                "verb + barrier": ["build", "create", "erect"],
                "preposition": ["barrier against", "barrier between", "barrier to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "something that exists between one thing or person and another and keeps them separate",
            "sensetop": "barrier between A and Bbarrier against something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The Yangtze River is a natural barrier to the north-east."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was no real barrier between reality and fantasy in his mind.",
                    "contextForm": "barrier between A and B"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The cream acts as a **protective barrier** against sun damage.",
                    "contextForm": "barrier against something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ozone is the earth's barrier against ultraviolet radiation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The mountains form a natural barrier between the two countries."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They believe that music can cross any barriers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a class barrier between the two families."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["impassable", "impenetrable", "natural"],
                "verb + barrier": ["form"],
                "preposition": ["barrier between"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a particular amount, level or number that it is difficult to get past",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the first player whose earnings passed the $10 million barrier"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈbæriə(r)/",
                "audio": "ba/barrier/barrier__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈbæriər/",
                "audio": "ba/barrier/barrier__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English (denoting a palisade or fortification defending an entrance): from Old French barriere, of unknown origin."
}