Tra từ difficulty - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

dif·fi·culty [difficulty difficulties] BrE [ˈdɪfɪkəlti] NAmE [ˈdɪfɪkəlti] noun (pl. dif·fi·culties)
1. countable, usually plural, uncountable a problem; a thing or situation that causes problems
•the difficulties of English syntax
•children with severe learning difficulties
•We've run into difficulties/difficulty with the new project.
• He got into difficulties while swimming and had to be rescued.
•The bank is in difficulty/difficulties.
• It was a time fraught with difficulties and frustration.
2. uncountable the state or quality of being hard to do or to understand; the effort that sth involves
•I had considerable difficulty (in) persuading her to leave.
•I had no difficulty (in) making myself understood.
• The changes were made with surprisingly little difficulty.
• He spoke slowly and with great difficulty.
•We found the house without difficulty.
•They discussed the difficulty of studying abroad. You cannot say ‘have difficulty to do sth’: I had difficulty to persuade her to leave.
3. uncountable how hard sth is
•varying levels of difficulty
•questions of increasing difficulty

Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the senses ‘requiring effort or skill’ and ‘something difficult’): from Latin difficultas, from dis- (expressing reversal)

facultas ‘ability, opportunity’.

Thesaurus:
difficulty noun
1. C, usually pl., U
•We soon ran into difficulties with the project.
problem • • trouble • • complication • • issue • |usually approving challenge • |especially spoken the matter •
(a/an/the) difficulty/problem/trouble/complication/issue/matter with sth
have difficulties/problems/trouble/issues
cause/avoid difficulties/problems/trouble/complications
Difficulty or problem? To talk about one thing that is difficult to deal with use problem; to talk about more than one thing use either word
•The problem first arose in 2008.
• The project has been fraught with difficulties/problems from the start.
2. U
•I had difficulty making myself heard.
trouble • |BrE bother • • job • |informal hassle •
Opp: ease
difficulty/trouble/bother/hassle with sth
have difficulty/trouble/a job
cause (sb) difficulty/trouble/bother/hassle

Example Bank:
•Anyone experiencing difficulty with radio reception should call us on the new helpline.
•Despite all the difficulties, he still remains optimistic.
•Difficulties arise when people fail to consult their colleagues.
•English spelling presents special difficulties for foreign learners.
•I had little difficulty in persuading the others to come.
•I think we've managed to overcome most of the practical difficulties.
•I'm having difficulty with the engine.
•Let me know if you have any difficulties.
•Life in the city was not without its difficulties.
•Please report any difficulties to the help desk.
•She had difficulty in starting her car.
•She is always making difficulties for herself.
•Some companies are already in difficulty.
•Some companies are getting into difficulty.
•The difficulty lies in identifying the precise nature of the problem.
•The games have various different levels of difficulty.
•The plan has run into serious difficulties.
•The situation was fraught with difficulty.
•This increases the difficulty of the shot.
•We could see that the swimmer was in difficulties.
•We crossed the border without any difficulty.
•We had enormous difficulty in getting hold of the right equipment.
•Will it cause any difficulties if I go early?
•children with learning difficulties
•how to avoid technical difficulties
•the difficulties inherent in treating overdose patients
•the difficulty of finding affordable accommodation
•I had considerable difficulty in persuading her to leave.
•I had no difficulty making myself understood.
•The bank is in difficulty at the moment.
•The project has been fraught with problems/difficulties from the start.
•We found the house without difficulty.
•We've run into difficulties with the new project.
•What should you do if you see someone in difficulties/difficulty in the water?