support
UK /səˈpɔːt/ · US /səˈpoɹt/ verb, noun
Forms supports supporting supported supportest supportedst supporteth
- verb (transitive) To help keep from falling. “Don’t move that beam! It supports the whole platform.”
- verb (transitive) To back or favor a cause, party, etc., mentally or with concrete aid: “I support France in the World Cup.”
- verb (transitive) To provide sustenance or maintenance for; to sustain in integrity or livelihood. “Mars does not currently support human habitation.”
- verb (transitive) To help, particularly financially; to subsidize. “The government supports the arts in several ways.”
- verb (transitive) To provide evidence for; to lend credibility to. “The testimony is not sufficient to support the charges.”
- verb (transitive) To serve, as in a customer-oriented position; to give support to. “The IT Department supports the research organization, but not the sales force.”
- verb (transitive) To assist or be involved with, but not be responsible for. “I support the administrative activities of the executive branch of the organization.”
- verb (transitive) To answer questions and resolve problems regarding something sold. “Sure they sell the product, but do they support it?”
- noun (sometimes attributive) Something which supports. “Don't move that beam! It's a support for the whole platform.”
- noun Financial or other help. “The government provides support to the arts in several ways.”
- noun Answers to questions and resolution of problems regarding something sold. “Sure they sell the product, but do they provide support?”
- noun (mathematics) in relation to a function, the set of points where the function is not zero; the closure of that set.
- noun (fuzzy set theory) A set whose elements are at least partially included in a given fuzzy set (i.e., whose grade of membership in that fuzzy set is strictly greater than zero). “If the membership function of a fuzzy set is continuous, then that fuzzy set's support is an open set.”
- noun (commutative algebra, of a module M over a commutative ring R) The set of all prime ideals of R such that the localization of M at the prime is nonzero, denoted operatorname SuppM
- noun Evidence. “The new research provides further support for our theory.”
- noun (software, hardware) Compatibility and functionality for a given product or feature. “This game has no mouse support.”
Synonyms
bear bestand hold up stut undergird underprop upbear upgird uphold take bolster adhere attest corroborate establish substantiate sustain verify accommodate enable reinforcement reenforcement documentation keep livelihood living bread and butter sustenance supporting accompaniment
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English supporten, from Old French supporter, from Latin supportō.
From Middle English support, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French support. Displaced Old English wraþu.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold; to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports the branches.
- verb To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or misfortunes.
- noun The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or sustaining.
- noun That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.
Etymology [F. supporter, L. supportare to carry on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.]
Etymology [F.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “support”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details