WordWeb Online

1. The condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness
   "reading handicap";
   - disability, disablement, impairment
    
2. Advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning
    
3. Something that interferes with (or delays) action or progress
   - hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, impediment, balk, baulk [Brit], check

1. Injure permanently
   "He was handicapped in a car accident";
   - disable, invalid, incapacitate
    
2. Attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant
    
3. Put at a disadvantage
   "The brace I have to wear is handicapping my movements";
   - hinder, hamper

Derived forms: handicapped, handicapping, handicaps

Type of: advantage, bias, difficultness, difficulty, disadvantage, disfavor [US], disfavour [Brit, Cdn], fix [informal], hole [informal], injure, jam [informal], kettle of fish [informal], mess [informal], muddle [informal], pickle [informal], skew, softness, unfitness, vantage, wound

Encyclopedia: Handicap