support definition

English support definition

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /səˈpɔːt/, [səˈpʰɔːt]
• (General American) IPA^(key): /səˈpɔɹt/, [səˈpʰɔɹt], [səˈpʰoɹt]
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /səˈpo(ː)ɹt/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /səˈpoət/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)t
• Hyphenation: sup‧port

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English supporten, from Old French supporter, from Latin supportō. Displaced Old English underwreþian and Old English fultum.

Verb

support (third-person singular simple present supports, present participle supporting, simple past and past participle supported)

2. (transitive) To keep from falling.

   Don’t move that beam! It supports the whole platform.

   Synonyms: underprop, uphold, stut

3. (transitive) To answer questions and resolve problems regarding something sold.

   Sure they sell the product, but do they support it?

5. (transitive) To back a cause, party, etc., mentally or with concrete aid.

   I support France in the World Cup.

   Antonym: oppose

6. (transitive) To help, particularly financially.

   The government supports the arts in several ways.

   • 2020 April 14, “Beaten into a Coma for My Faith, Recovered Without Medical Treatment”, in Minghui‎^[1]:

     I said I shouldn’t support anything that deceives people.

7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to sustain.

   The testimony is not sufficient to support the charges.

   The evidence will not support the statements or allegations.

   • 1754, Jonathan Edwards, The Freedom of the Will

     to urge such arguments, as though they were sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy

8. (transitive) To serve, as in a customer-oriented mindset; to give support to.

   The IT Department supports the research organization, but not the sales force.

   I don't make decisions, but I support those who do.

9. (transitive) To be designed (said of machinery, electronics, or computers, or their parts, accessories, peripherals, or programming) to function compatibly with or provide the capacity for.

   Early personal computers did not support voice-recognition hardware or software.

10. (transitive) To be accountable for, or involved with, but not responsible for.

    I support the administrative activities of the executive branch of the organization.

11. (archaic) To endure without being overcome; bear; undergo; to tolerate.
    • 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 6484883, (please specify the page number):

      This fierce demeanour and his insolence / The patience of a god could not support.

    • 1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque:

      For a strong affection such moments are worth supporting, and they will end well; for your advocate is in your lover's heart and speaks her own language […]

12. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain.

    to support the character of King Lear

Derived terms

• supportable
• supported
• supportive

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English support, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French support. Displaced Old English underwreþung.

Noun

support (countable and uncountable, plural supports)

1. (sometimes attributive) Something which supports.

   Don't move that beam! It's a support for the whole platform.

2. Financial or other help.

   The government provides support to the arts in several ways.

   • 2011 December 19, Kerry Brown, “Kim Jong-il obituary”, in The Guardian‎^[2]:

     Kim was educated at the newly founded university in Pyongyang, named after his father, graduating in 1964. The 1960s and early 1970s were the golden years for the DPRK. It undertook rapid industrialisation, economically outstripped its southern competitor, and enjoyed the support of both the People's Republic of China, and the Soviet Union.

   • 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, OCLC 962368035, PC, scene: Normandy SR-2:

     Admiral Hackett: Hell of a thing you just pulled off, Commander. Curing the genophage? I never thought I'd see the day.
     Shepard: Wrex has agreed to help the turians, Admiral. We should get their full support.

3. Answers to questions and resolution of problems regarding something sold.

   Sure they sell the product, but do they provide support?

   Hyponyms: first-level support, second-level support, third-level support

4. (mathematics) in relation to a function, the set of points where the function is not zero, or the closure of that set.

   Antonym: kernel

5. (fuzzy set theory) A set whose elements are at least partially included in a given fuzzy set (i.e., whose grade of membership in that fuzzy set is strictly greater than zero).

   If the membership function of a fuzzy set is continuous, then that fuzzy set's support is an open set.

6. Evidence.

   The new research provides further support for our theory.

7. (computing) Compatibility and functionality for a given product or feature.

   This game has no mouse support.

8. An actor playing a subordinate part with a star.
9. An accompaniment in music.
10. (gymnastics) Clipping of support position.
    • 2008, Christopher Sommer, Building the Gymnastic Body, the Science of Gymnastic Strength Training, page 88:

      Dip down as far as you are able, aiming to descend to the bottom of your sternum. Press back up to a support.

11. (structural analysis) Horizontal, vertical or rotational support of structures: movable, hinged, fixed. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Hyponyms

• moral support
• (military): combat support

Derived terms

• support act
• support group

Translations

French support definition

Etymology

From the verb supporter.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sy.pɔʁ/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

support m (plural supports)

1. support
2. base
3. (heraldry) supporter

Further reading

• “support”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.