Support definition | Dictionary.com

sup⋅port

[suh-pawrt, -pohrt]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.

2.	to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.

3.	to undergo or endure, esp. with patience or submission; tolerate.

4.	to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal.

5.	to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for: to support a family.

6.	to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second.

7.	to maintain or advocate (a theory, principle, etc.).

8.	to corroborate (a statement, opinion, etc.): Leading doctors supported his testimony.

9.	to act with or second (a lead performer); assist in performance: The star was supported by a talented newcomer.

–noun

10.	the act or an instance of supporting.

11.	the state of being supported.

12.	something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay.

13.	maintenance, as of a person or family, with necessaries, means, or funds: to pay for support of an orphan.

14.	a person or thing that supports, as financially: The pension was his only support.

15.	a person or thing that gives aid or assistance.

16.	an actor, actress, or group performing with a lead performer.

17.	the material, as canvas or wood, on which a picture is painted.

18.	Stock Exchange. support level.

–adjective

19.	(of hosiery) made with elasticized fibers so as to fit snugly on the legs, thereby aiding circulation, relieving fatigue, etc.

Origin:
1350–1400; (v.) ME supporten < MF supporter < ML supportāre to endure (L: to convey), equiv. to sup- sup- + portāre to carry (see port ⁵ ); (n.) ME, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:

sup⋅port⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1, 6. Support, maintain, sustain, uphold all mean to hold up and to preserve. To support is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To maintain is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. To sustain, a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim. Uphold applies esp. to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority. 3. suffer, bear, stand, stomach. 13. sustenance, subsistence, keep. See living.

support level

–noun Stock Exchange.

a minimum price below which a specific stock is not supposed to fall, as because of the stock's inherent worth.

Also called support, support area, support zone.

Compare resistance level.

Origin:
1950–55

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To Support

sup·port (sə-pôrt', -pōrt')

tr.v. sup·port·ed, sup·port·ing, sup·ports

To bear the weight of, especially from below.
To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.
To be capable of bearing; withstand: "His flaw'd heart . . . too weak the conflict to support" (Shakespeare).
To keep from weakening or failing; strengthen: The letter supported him in his grief.
To provide for or maintain, by supplying with money or necessities.
To furnish corroborating evidence for: New facts supported her story.
1. To aid the cause, policy, or interests of: supported her in her election campaign.
2. To argue in favor of; advocate: supported lower taxes.
To endure; tolerate: "At supper there was such a conflux of company that I could scarcely support the tumult" (Samuel Johnson).
To act in a secondary or subordinate role to (a leading performer).

1. The act of supporting.
2. The state of being supported.
One that supports.
Maintenance, as of a family, with the necessities of life.

[Middle English supporten, from Old French supporter, from Latin supportāre, to carry : sub-, from below; see sub- + portāre, to carry; see per-² in Indo-European roots.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to give aid or encouragement to a person or cause. Support is the most general: "the policy of Cromwell, who supported the growing power of France against the declining power of Spain" (William E.H. Lecky).
To uphold is to maintain or affirm in the face of a challenge or strong opposition: "The Declaration of Right upheld the principle of hereditary monarchy" (Edmund Burke).
Back suggests material or moral support intended to contribute to or assure success: The important medical research was backed by the federal government.
Advocate implies verbal support, often in the form of pleading or arguing: Scientists advocate a reduction in saturated fats in the human diet.
To champion is to fight for one that is under attack or is unable to act in its own behalf: "championed the government and defended the system of taxation" (Samuel Chew).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Support

Sup*port"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supported; p. pr. & vb. n. Supporting.] [F. supporter, L. supportare to carry on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.]

1. 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.

2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or misfortunes.

This fierce demeanor and his insolence The patience of a god could not support. --Dryden.

3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to support the courage or spirits.

4. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain; as, to support the character of King Lear.

5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; to maintain; to provide for; as, to support a family; to support the ministers of the gospel.

6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a debate.

7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to support the charges; the evidence will not support the statements or allegations.

To urge such arguments, as though they were sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy. --J. Edwards.

8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to be able to support one's own cause.

9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to help; to back up; as, to support a friend or a party; to support the present administration.

Wherefore, bold pleasant, Darest thou support a published traitor? --Shak.

10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a chairman supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the prison, supported by his two sons.

Support arms (Mil.), a command in the manual of arms in responce to which the piece is held vertically at the shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm, which is passed horizontally across the body in front; also, the position assumed in response to this command.

Syn: To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate; countenance; patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold; encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield; defend; protect; stay; assist; forward.

Support

Sup*port"\, n. [F.]

1. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or sustaining.

2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.

3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome, falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like; subsistence; maintenance; assistance; re["e]nforcement; as, he gave his family a good support, the support of national credit; the assaulting column had the support of a battery.

Points of support (Arch.), the horizontal area of the solids of a building, walls, piers, and the like, as compared with the open or vacant spaces.

Right of support (Law), an easement or servitude by which the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber on the walls of his neighbor's house. --Kent.

Syn: Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance; favor; countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help; succor; nutriment; sustenance; food.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Support

Spanish: aguantar, sostener,

German: tragen,

Japanese: 支える

More Translations »

support

n. After-sale handholding; something many software vendors promise but few deliver. To hackers, most support people are useless -- because by the time a hacker calls support he or she will usually know the software and the relevant manuals better than the support people (sadly, this is _not_ a joke or exaggeration). A hacker's idea of `support' is a te^te-a`-te^te with the software's designer.

Jargon File 4.2.0
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support

1382, from O.Fr. supporter, from L. supportare "convey, carry, bring up," from sub "up from under" + portare "to carry" (see port (1)). The noun meaning "act of assistance, backing" is recorded from 1390; sense of "that which supports" is from 1570. Meaning "services which enable something to fulfil its function and remain in operation" (e.g. tech support) is from 1953. Supportive (1593) is called "rare" in OED (1933).

support

Increased demand for a security. Compare resistance.

Main Entry: sup·port
Function: transitive verb
1 a : to promote the interests or cause of b : to uphold or defend as valid or right c : to argue or vote for
2 : to provide with substantiation or corroboration <support an alibi>
3 : to provide with the means of livelihood (as housing, food, or clothing) esp. in accordance with an agreement or court order
4 : to hold up or in position : maintain the physical integrity of supported by the underlying land>

Main Entry: support
Function: noun
1 : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported support>
2 : a means of obtaining the necessities of life (as food, shelter, and clothing) : a source of livelihood esp. in the form of alimony or child support
3 : something that provides support

Main Entry: ¹sup·port
Pronunciation: s&-'pO(&)rt, -'po(&)rt
Function: transitive verb
1 : to hold up or serve as afoundation or prop for
2 : to maintain in condition, action, or existence <support respiration> <support life>

Main Entry: ²support
Function: noun
1 : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported support>
2 : SUPPORTER

support sup·port (sə-pôrt')
v. sup·port·ed, sup·port·ing, sup·ports

To bear the weight of, especially from below.
To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.
To be capable of bearing; withstand.
To keep from weakening or failing; strengthen.
To provide for or maintain, by supplying with money or necessities.
To endure; tolerate.

The act of supporting.
The state of being supported.
One that supports or maintains.
Maintenance, as of a family, with the necessities of life.

support
After-sale handholding; something many software vendors promise but few deliver. To hackers, most support people are useless - because by the time a hacker calls support he or she will usually know the software and the relevant manuals better than the support people (sadly, this is *not* a joke or exaggeration). A hacker's idea of "support" is a tête-à-tête or exchange of electronic mail with the software's designer.
[The Jargon File]
(1995-02-15)

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