support (supports plural & 3rd person present) (supporting present participle) (supported past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you support someone or their ideas or aims, you agree with them, and perhaps help them because you want them to succeed.
(=back) (Antonym: oppose)
The vice president insisted that he supported the hard-working people of New York... V n
The National Union of Mineworkers pressed the party to support a total ban on imported coal. V n
Support is also a noun., n-uncount usu with supp
The prime minister gave his full support to the government's reforms...
2 n-uncount If you give support to someone during a difficult or unhappy time, you are kind to them and help them.
It was hard to come to terms with her death after all the support she gave to me and the family...
3 n-uncount Financial support is money provided to enable an organization to continue. This money is usually provided by the government.
oft supp N
(=funding)
...the government's proposal to cut agricultural support by only about 15%.
4 verb If you support someone, you provide them with money or the things that they need.
I have children to support, money to be earned, and a home to be maintained... V n
She sold everything she'd ever bought in order to support herself through art school. V pron-refl
5 verb If a fact supports a statement or a theory, it helps to show that it is true or correct.
(=substantiate)
The Freudian theory about daughters falling in love with their father has little evidence to support it. V n
Support is also a noun., n-uncount
(=evidence)
The two largest powers in any system must always be major rivals. History offers some support for this view.
6 verb If something supports an object, it is underneath the object and holding it up.
(=hold up)
...the thick wooden posts that supported the ceiling... V n
7 n-count A support is a bar or other object that supports something.
8 verb If you supportyourself, you prevent yourself from falling by holding onto something or by leaning on something.
He supported himself by means of a nearby post. V pron-refl
Support is also a noun., n-uncount
Alice, very pale, was leaning against him as if for support.
9 verb If you support a sports team, you always want them to win and perhaps go regularly to their games.
Tim, 17, supports Manchester United. V n
income support
In Britain, income support is money that the government gives regularly to people with no income or very low incomes. n-uncount
life-support machine (life-support machines plural )A life-support machine is the equipment that is used to keep a person alive when they are very ill and cannot breathe without help.
(mainly BRIT) n-count
He is in a coma and on a life-support machine.
in AM, use respirator
life-support system (life-support systems plural )A life-support system is the same as a life-support machine. n-count
support group (support groups plural )A support group is an organization run by and for people who have a particular problem or medical condition. n-count oft with supp
She attended a cancer support group at her local hospital.
technical support
Technical support is a repair and advice service that some companies such as computer companies provide for their customers, usually by telephone, fax, or e-mail. n-uncount
victim support
Victim support is the giving of help and advice to people who are victims of crime. n-uncount
When the attack took place, there were no victim support schemes.
