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handicap

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
hand·i·cap  (hnd-kp)
n.
1. Sports & Games
a. A race or contest in which advantages or compensations are given different contestants to equalize the chances of winning.
b. Such an advantage or penalty.
2. A physical or mental disability. See Synonyms at disadvantage.
3. A hindrance.
tr.v. hand·i·capped, hand·i·cap·ping, hand·i·caps
1. Sports & Games To assign handicaps or a handicap to (a contestant).
2. To cause to be at a disadvantage; impede.

[From obsolete hand in cap, a game in which forfeits were held in a cap.]

handicap
Noun
1. a physical or mental disability
2. something that makes progress difficult
3.
a. a contest in which competitors are given advantages or disadvantages in an attempt to equalize their chances
b. the advantage or disadvantage given
4. Golf the number of strokes by which a player's averaged score exceeds par for the course
Verb
[-capping, -capped]
to make it difficult for (someone) to do something [probably hand in cap, a lottery game in which players drew forfeits from a cap]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.handicaphandicap - the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness; "reading disability"; "hearing impairment"
bandy leg, bandyleg, bowleg, genu varum, tibia vara, bow leg - a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee)
anorgasmia - absence of an orgasm in sexual relations
dysphasia - an impairment of language (especially speech production) that is usually due to brain damage
unfitness, softness - poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)
disability of walking - a disability that interferes with or prevents walking
astasia - inability to stand due to muscular incoordination
amputation - a condition of disability resulting from the loss of one or more limbs
hearing disorder, hearing impairment - impairment of the sense of hearing
dysomia - impairment of the sense of smell
vision defect, visual defect, visual disorder, visual impairment - impairment of the sense of sight
descensus, prolapse, prolapsus - the slipping or falling out of place of an organ (as the uterus)
hypesthesia, hypoesthesia - impairment of tactile sensitivity; decrease of sensitivity
genu valgum, knock-knee, tibia valga - an inward slant of the thigh
pigeon toes - disability in which the toes are turned inward; often associated with knock-knee
bandy legs, bow leg, bow legs - outward curvature of the legs
disintegration - a loss (or serious disruption) of organization in some system; "a disintegration of personality"
2.handicap - advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
advantage, vantage - the quality of having a superior or more favorable position; "the experience gave him the advantage over me"
penalty - (games) a handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the game
scratch - (golf) a handicap of zero strokes; "a golfer who plays at scratch should be able to achieve par on a course"
3.handicap - something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
difficulty - a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result; "serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent"
albatross, millstone - (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was an albatross around his neck"
bind - something that hinders as if with bonds
diriment impediment - (canon law) an impediment that invalidates a marriage (such as the existence of a prior marriage)
drag - something that slows or delays progress; "taxation is a drag on the economy"; "too many laws are a drag on the use of new land"
obstacle, obstruction - 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"
straitjacket - anything immaterial that severely hinders or confines; "they defected because Russian dance was in a straitjacket"; "the government is operating in an economic straitjacket"
Verb1.handicap - injure permanently; "He was disabled in a car accident"
injure, wound - cause injuries or bodily harm to
hock - disable by cutting the hock
2.handicap - attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant
bias - influence in an unfair way; "you are biasing my choice by telling me yours"
3.handicap - put at a disadvantage; "The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements"
disadvantage, disfavor, disfavour - put at a disadvantage; hinder, harm; "This rule clearly disadvantages me"

handicap
noun 1. disability, defect, impairment, physical abnormality
verb 4. hinder, limit, restrict, burden, hamstring, hamper, hold back, retard, impede, hobble, encumber, place at a disadvantage << OPPOSITE help
Translations
Spanish handicap [ˈhændɪkæp] ndesventaja;
(SPORT) → hándicap m
vtestorbar

French handicap [ˈhændɪkæp] nhandicap m
vthandicaper;
mentally/physically handicapped → handicapé(e) mentalement/physiquement

German handicap [ˈhændɪkæp] nBehinderung f;
(disadvantage) → Nachteil m;
(Sport) → Handicap nt
mentally/physically handicapped → geistig/körperlich behindert

Italian handicap [ˈhændɪkæp] nhandicap m inv
vthandicappare;
to be mentally handicapped → essere un handicappato mentale;
to be physically handicapped → essere handicappato

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Let a man be a man and don't handicap him with the label of any section.
I see from the local paper that you are still playing at two handicap.
He could draw well enough and he had many odd deli- cate thoughts hidden away in his brain that might have expressed themselves through the brush of a painter, but he was always a child and that was a handicap to his worldly development.
 
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