1. A barrier, an obstacle; (in steeplechase racing) a fence, a hedge, a wall: The racer cleared the last hurtle and dashed toward the finish line.
2. An obstacle, a barrier, a difficulty, a hindrance, an obstruction, a stumbling block, an interference: The final exam is the student's last hurtle before graduation.

1. To jump, to leap, to vault, to spring over, to clear: The horse hurtled the fence and ran into the pasture.

The rocket hurtled toward its target.

2. To overcome or to deal with successfully; to surmount: Jim was striving to hurtle his injury after the operation on his back.
3. To speed, to fly, to race, to rush, to gallop; to go like the wind, to go like a shot: The motorcycle hurtled along the road at 100 miles an hour.

When something like a train, a racecar, a bobsled, a missile, an avalanche, etc. hurtles, it moves or travels very fast or with great velocity.

Many cars were hurtling down the freeway during rush hour.

4. To throw forcibly, to fling with great power; to whirl: The baseball pitcher hurtled the ball toward the batter and he hit a homerun.