maintenance

main·te·nance   (mān'tə-nəns)    n.   The act of maintaining or the state of being maintained. The work of keeping something in proper condition; upkeep. Provision of support or livelihood: took over the maintenance of her family. Means of support or livelihood: was ordered to pay maintenance for both children. Law The wrongful aiding of another in the pursuit or defense of a lawsuit, especially in jurisdictions where nonparties are legally prohibited to provide financial assistance. [Middle English maintenaunce, from Old French maintenance, from maintenir, to maintain; see maintain.]

maintenance 

Main Entry: main·te·nance
Function: noun
1 a : the act of providing basic and necessary support b : the state of having such support
2 : a financial means of providing necessary assistance: as a : ALIMONY b : SUPPORT
3 : the necessities of life provided for by payment of maintenance
4 : the upkeep of property or equipment
5 : unsought and unnecessary meddling in a lawsuit by assisting either party with means to carry it on —compare CHAMPERTY

Main Entry: main·te·nance
Pronunciation: 'mAnt-n&n(t)s, -^&n-&n(t)s
Function: adjective
: designed or adequate tomaintain a patient in a stable condition : serving to maintain a gradual process of healing or to prevent a relapse maintenance dose> <maintenance chemotherapy>

maintenance main·te·nance (mān'tə-nəns)
n.
The extent to which a patient continues good health practices without professional supervision, as distinguished from adherence or compliance.

maintenance programming
The modification of a software product, after delivery, to correct faults, to improve performance or other attributes, or to adapt the product to a changed environment.
Maintenance is an important part of the software life-cycle. It is expensive in manpower and resources, and one of the aims of software engineering is to reduce its cost.
(1996-12-27)