an obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented)
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted; "lack of imagination is an obstacle to one's advancement"; "the poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education"; "the filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan"
establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment; "The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound"; "The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture"
prove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proof
obtain probate of; "prove a will"
take a trial impression of
be shown or be found to be; "She proved to be right"; "The medicine turned out to save her life"; "She turned up HIV positive"