support

present singular third person supports · participle present supporting · participle past supported · past supported · first person past singular supported · archaic present second person singular supportest · past second person singular supported · archaic past second person singular supportedst · present singular third person supports · archaic present singular third person supporteth · past singular third person supported · past plural supported · past subjunctive supported · participle present supporting · participle past supported

1. transitiveTo help keep from falling.

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

   3 more examples

   He staggered away from the accident site, supported by one friend on each side.

   There is a soft-mat seat (which originally had a palm fiber underwebbing) supported by three curved transverse braces.

   1995, Nancy Berliner, Sarah Handler, Friends of the House, →ISBN, page 79

   One of the keys to glassing effectively is supporting your binoculars. Advanced glassers who scan lots of country for long periods of time, or who use binoculars of 10X power or more, often use a lightweight camera tripod […]

   2000, Field & Stream, volume 105, number 6, page 87

   Synonyms: bear, bestand, hold up, stut, undergird, underprop, upbear, upgird

2. transitiveTo back or favor a cause, party, etc., mentally or with concrete aid

   I support France in the World Cup.

   Synonyms: adhere · Antonyms: oppose

3. transitiveTo provide sustenance or maintenance for; to sustain in integrity or livelihood.

   Mars does not currently support human habitation.

   1 more example

   A grain, which in England is generally given to horſes, but which in Scotland ſupports the people.

   1755 April 15, Samuel Johnson, “Oats”, in A Dictionary of the English Language: […], volume II (L–Z), London: […] J[ohn] and P[aul] Knapton; […], →OCLC, column 1

4. transitiveTo help, particularly financially; to subsidize.

   The government supports the arts in several ways.

   2 more examples

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

   2020 April 14, “Beaten into a Coma for My Faith, Recovered Without Medical Treatment”, in Minghui

   The NIAID supports projects at universities and research organizations around the United States as well as a network of 21 NIAID labs across the country.

   2023 August 2, Ben Tinker, Meg Tirrell and Brenda Goodman, “New director named at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases after Fauci’s retirement”, in CNN

5. transitiveTo provide evidence for; to lend credibility to.

   The testimony is not sufficient to support the charges.

   2 more examples

   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

   1754, Jonathan Edwards, The Freedom of the Will

   Synonyms: attest, corroborate, establish, substantiate, sustain, verify, undergird

6. transitiveTo serve, as in a customer-oriented position; to give support to.

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

7. transitiveTo assist or be involved with, but not be responsible for.

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

   1 more example

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

8. transitiveTo answer questions and resolve problems regarding something sold.

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

9. transitiveusuallyhardware; programming languages; hardware; programming languagescomputingTo be designed to provide capacity for; to work or be compatible with (a part, accessory, file type, program, algorithm, etc.).

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

   Synonyms: accommodate, enable, play, run

10. archaictransitiveTo endure without being overcome; bear; undergo; tolerate.

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

    1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number)

    1 more example

    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[…]

    1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque

11. transitiveTo play a lesser part in the same production with (a star performer).

    to support the character of King Lear

    1 more example

    And the award for best supporting actress goes to...

plural supports

1. attributivecountablesometimesuncountableSomething which supports.

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

   Synonyms: sustentation

2. countableuncountableFinancial or other help.

   The government provides support to the arts in several ways.

   2 more examples

   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.

   2011 December 19, Kerry Brown, “Kim Jong-il obituary”, in The Guardian

   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.

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

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

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

4. countableuncountablemathematicsthe set of points where the function is not zero; the closure of that set.

   Antonyms: kernel

5. countableuncountablefuzzy set theoryA 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. countableuncountablecommutative algebraThe set of all prime ideals of R such that the localization of M at the prime is nonzero, denoted operatorname SuppM
7. countableuncountableEvidence.

   The new research provides further support for our theory.

8. countableuncountablehardwarecomputingCompatibility and functionality for a given product or feature.

   This game has no mouse support.

9. countableuncountablebroadcastingAn actor playing a subordinate part with a star.
10. countableuncountableentertainmentAn accompaniment in music.
11. abbreviationclippingcountableuncountablegymnasticsClipping of support position.

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

    2008, Christopher Sommer, Building the Gymnastic Body, the Science of Gymnastic Strength Training, page 88

12. countableuncountablestructural analysisHorizontal, vertical or rotational support of structures: movable, hinged, fixed.