Support - Definition

n 1: the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying
with money or necessities; "his support kept the family
together"; "they gave him emotional support during
difficult times"
2: aiding the cause or policy or interests of; "the president no
longer has the support of his own party"; "they developed a
scheme of mutual support"
3: something providing immaterial assistance to a person or
cause or interest; "the policy found little public support";
"his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed
the support of their fans"
4: a military operation (often involving new supplies of men and
materiel) to strengthen a military force or aid in the
performance of its mission; "they called for artillery
support" [syn: support, reinforcement, reenforcement]
5: documentary validation; "his documentation of the results was
excellent"; "the strongest support for this view is the work
of Jones" [syn: documentation, support]
6: the financial means whereby one lives; "each child was
expected to pay for their keep"; "he applied to the state for
support"; "he could no longer earn his own livelihood" [syn:
support, keep, livelihood, living, bread and
butter, sustenance]
7: supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation;
"the statue stood on a marble support"
8: the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; "he leaned
against the wall for support" [syn: support, supporting]
9: a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or
provides background for other musical parts [syn:
accompaniment, musical accompaniment, backup,
support]
10: any device that bears the weight of another thing; "there
was no place to attach supports for a shelf"
11: financial resources provided to make some project possible;
"the foundation provided support for the experiment" [syn:
support, financial support, funding, backing,
financial backing]
v 1: give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to;
"She supported him during the illness"; "Her children
always backed her up" [syn: support, back up]
2: support materially or financially; "he does not support his
natural children"; "The scholarship supported me when I was
in college"
3: be behind; approve of; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I
backed Kennedy in 1960" [syn: back, endorse, indorse,
plump for, plunk for, support]
4: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam
holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I
balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?" [syn:
hold, support, sustain, hold up]
5: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his
story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the
defendant" [syn: confirm, corroborate, sustain,
substantiate, support, affirm] [ant: contradict,
negate]
6: adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion"
[syn: subscribe, support]
7: support with evidence or authority or make more certain or
confirm; "The stories and claims were born out by the
evidence" [syn: corroborate, underpin, bear out,
support]
8: argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to
strike" [syn: defend, support, fend for]
9: play a subordinate role to (another performer); "Olivier
supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act"
10: be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this
store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long
as he could" [syn: patronize, patronise, patronage,
support, keep going]
11: put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear
his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a
lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the
heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage"
[syn: digest, endure, stick out, stomach, bear,
stand, tolerate, support, brook, abide, suffer,
put up]