support
Definitions
General English
- noun an object or structure which stops something from falling
- noun an act of encouraging and helping someone, or of agreeing with their plans
- verb to hold something up to stop it falling down
Agriculture
- verb to provide what is necessary for an activity or way of life
Aviation
Banking
- noun agreement or encouragement
- verb to give money to help someone or something
- verb to encourage someone, or to agree with someone
Computing
- verb to give help to or to help to run
Electronics
- To bear the weight of something, provide a base, or otherwise help provide physical stability.
- The ability to function properly with specific software and/or hardware, or to have a given capability. For example, to support multiple operating systems, real-time applications, natural language input, hot-plugging, or a data rate of 100 Gbps.
- To provide assistance. For instance, to provide technical support.
Information & Library Science
- verb to provide help, advice or finance to ensure that somebody or something else can work
Medical
- noun help to keep something in place
- noun a handle, a metal rail which a person can hold
Military
- noun units or sub-units which provide support
- verb to assist or help another person or group
- verb to provide fire support to another grouping
Origin & History of “support”
Latin supportāre meant ‘carry, convey, bring’ (it was a compound verb formed from the prefix sub- ‘up, towards’ and portāre ‘carry’, source of English portable, porter, etc). The sense ‘endure’ (represented in English mainly by the derivative insupportable (16th c.)) evolved in post-classical Latin. ‘Bear the weight of’ is not recorded in English until the 16th century.
