Champion lacking height succeeded in love (4)
I believe the answer is:
eros
'love' is the definition.
(Greek god of love)
'champion lacking height succeeded in' is the wordplay.
'champion' becomes 'hero' ('hero' can be a synonym of 'champion').
'lacking' is a deletion indicator.
'height' becomes 'h'.
'succeeded in' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.**).
'hero' with 'h' removed is 'ero'.
'ero'+'s'='EROS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eros that I've seen before include "Greek god of love - see statue in Piccadilly" , "Orbiter" , "Cupid, son of Aphrodite" , "divinity" , "Circus boy" .)