hand·i·cap

noun

/ˈhændikæp/

[countable, uncountable] (old-fashioned, usually offensive) a permanent physical or mental condition that makes it difficult to do some things that most other people can do一种永久性的身体或精神状况，导致人们很难做一些大多数人都能做的事情 The term handicap is now usually considered offensive. You can say that somebody has a disability or is disabled instead.
- She was born with what was then called a handicap.她生来就患有当时所谓的残疾。
- a physical/mental/visual handicap身体/心理/视觉障碍
Which Word? disabled / handicapped
disabled / handicapped
- Disabled is the most generally accepted term to refer to people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Handicapped is old-fashioned and now usually considered offensive.
- Disabled and disability can also be used to talk about a condition that affects learning or brain development:
  intellectually disabled智力障碍
  learning disabilities.学习障碍
  In the UK, the term learning difficulty is generally preferred to talk about people who have difficulty with a particular type of learning (for example, people with dyslexia). It is also sometimes used in relation to people who have more general difficulties in learning skills, understanding information, etc., but the term learning disability is generally preferred to refer to these difficulties. However, in the US the term learning disability is preferred for specific difficulties in learning (such as dyslexia), where British English prefers learning difficulty. These terms replaced older terms that are now considered offensive such as ‘mental handicap’.
see also blind, deaf
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- serious
- severe
- mild
- …
verb + handicap
- be born with
- have
- suffer
- …
preposition
- despite a/the handicap
[countable] something that makes it difficult for somebody to do something障碍；阻碍 synonym obstacle
- Not speaking the language proved to be a bigger handicap than I'd imagined.事实证明，不会讲这种语言所造成的障碍比我想象的大。
- In a job like this, lack of experience is no real handicap.在这样的工作中，缺乏经验并不是真正的障碍。
Extra Examples
- His lack of height can prove a handicap against tall players.他身高不足，和高个运动员交锋时会处于劣势。
- Lack of books was a major handicap.书籍匮乏是一大障碍。
- This could be a serious handicap to her education.这可能对她的教育构成严重障碍。
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- considerable
- great
- …
verb + handicap
- have
- suffer
- prove
- …
preposition
- despite a/the handicap
- handicap to
[countable] (sport) a race or competition in which those who have most skill must run further, carry extra weight, etc. in order to give all those taking part an equal chance of winning; the disadvantage that is given to somebody you are competing against in such a race or competition让赛，让步赛（使参赛的优势方跑得更远、增加负重等）；（让步赛中给优势方施加的）障碍，不利条件
[countable] (in golf ) the number of strokes (= hits) over par (= the expected number of strokes for a good player) that a player usually needs to complete a course. Handicaps are used to give an advantage to weaker players so that competition is more equal when they play against stronger players.差点（给弱者减少的杆数）
- He plays off a handicap of 5.他的让分盘为5。
Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2

Word Originmid 17th cent.: from the phrase hand in cap; originally a pastime in which one person claimed an article belonging to another and offered something in exchange, any difference in value being decided by an umpire. All three deposited forfeit money in a cap; the two opponents showed their agreement or disagreement with the valuation by bringing out their hands either full or empty. If both were the same, the umpire took the forfeit money; if not it went to the person who accepted the valuation. The term handicap race was applied (late 18th cent.) to a horse race in which an umpire decided the weight to be carried by each horse, the owners showing acceptance or dissent in a similar way: hence in the late 19th cent. handicap came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse.

hand·i·cap

verb

/ˈhændikæp/

[usually passive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they handicap	/ˈhændikæp/ /ˈhændikæp/
he / she / it handicaps	/ˈhændikæps/ /ˈhændikæps/
past simple handicapped	/ˈhændikæpt/ /ˈhændikæpt/
past participle handicapped	/ˈhændikæpt/ /ˈhændikæpt/
-ing form handicapping	/ˈhændikæpɪŋ/ /ˈhændikæpɪŋ/

to make something more difficult for somebody to do妨碍；阻碍
- be handicapped (by something) Smaller parties are seriously handicapped by the electoral system.小党派受到这种选举制度的严重制约。
- The team was handicapped by the loss of their key striker early in the game.开场没多久就失去了主力前锋使球队处于不利的地位。
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from the phrase hand in cap; originally a pastime in which one person claimed an article belonging to another and offered something in exchange, any difference in value being decided by an umpire. All three deposited forfeit money in a cap; the two opponents showed their agreement or disagreement with the valuation by bringing out their hands either full or empty. If both were the same, the umpire took the forfeit money; if not it went to the person who accepted the valuation. The term handicap race was applied (late 18th cent.) to a horse race in which an umpire decided the weight to be carried by each horse, the owners showing acceptance or dissent in a similar way: hence in the late 19th cent. handicap came to mean the extra weight given to the superior horse.