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 had 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;
   reinforcement, reenforcement
   
   • they called for artillery support
5. documentary validation;
   documentation
   
   • his documentation of the results was excellent
   • the strongest support for this view is the work of Jones
6. the financial means whereby one lives;
   keep, livelihood, living, bread and butter, sustenance
   
   • each child was expected to pay for their keep
   • he applied to the state for support
   • he could no longer earn his own livelihood
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;
   supporting
   
   • he leaned against the wall for support
9. a subordinate musical part; provides background for more important parts;
   accompaniment, musical accompaniment, backup
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;
    financial support, funding, backing, financial backing
    
    • the foundation provided support for the experiment

v.

1. give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to;
   back up
   
   • She supported him during the illness
   • Her children always backed her 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;
   back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for
   
   • He plumped for the Labor Party
   • I backed Kennedy in 1960
4. be the physical support of; carry the weight of;
   hold, sustain, hold up
   
   • The beam holds up the roof
   • He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
   • What's holding that mirror?
5. establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts;
   confirm, corroborate, sustain, substantiate, affirm
   
   • his story confirmed my doubts
   • The evidence supports the defendant
6. adopt as a belief;
   subscribe
   
   • I subscribe to your view on abortion
7. support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm;
   corroborate, underpin, bear out
   
   • The stories and claims were born out by the evidence
8. argue or speak in defense of;
   defend, fend for
   
   • She supported the motion to strike
9. play a subordinate role to (another performer)
   
   • Olivier supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act
10. be a regular customer or client of;
    patronize, patronise, patronage, keep going
    
    • We patronize this store
    • Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could
11. put up with something or somebody unpleasant;
    digest, endure, stick out, stomach, bear, stand, tolerate, brook, abide, suffer, put up
    
    • 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