handicap

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C,U] (becoming old-fashioned, sometimes offensive) a permanent physical or mental condition that makes it difficult or impossible to use a particular part of your body or mind: Despite her handicap, Jane is able to hold down a full-time job. * mental / physical / visual handicap -< DISABLED 2 [C] something that makes it difficult for sb to do sth: Not speaking the language proved to be a bigger handicap than I'd imagined. * In a job like this, lack of experience is no real handicap. 3 [C] (sport) a race or competition in which the most skilful competitors must run further, carry extra weight, etc. in order to give all the competitors an equal chance of winning; the disadvantage that is given to a competitor in such a race or competition 4 [C] (in golf) an advantage given to a weaker player so that competition is more equal when they play against a stronger player. It is expressed as a number related to the number of times a player hits the ball and gets lower as he/she improves: He plays off a handicap of 5. verb (-pp-) [VN] [usuallypassive] to make sth more difficult for sb to do: British exports have been handicapped by the strong pound.