Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - support

~1 v 1 »AGREE WITH SB/STH« to say that you agree with an idea, group, person etc and want them to succeed  (The bill was supported by a large majority in the Senate. | support sb in sth)  (the peasants who supported Castro in his bid for power | strongly support (=support something very much)) 2 »HOLD STH UP« to hold the weight of something, keep it in place, or prevent it from falling  (The middle part of the bridge is supported by two huge towers. | I grabbed the rail to support myself.) 3 »PROVIDE MONEY TO LIVE« to provide enough money for someone to pay for all the things they need  (She needs a high income to support such a large family. | It's difficult to support yourself on this salary.) 4 »GIVE MONEY TO STH« to encourage a group, organization or event etc by giving it money  (Please support your local theatre, buy some tickets today!) 5 »HELP SB« to help someone by being sympathetic and kind to them during a difficult time in their life  (My wife supported me enormously when my mother died.) 6 »LAND« if land can support people or animals, it is of good enough quality to grow enough food for them to live  (This land isn't fertile enough to support many cattle.) 7 »A BAD HABIT« to get money in order to pay for a bad habit such as taking drugs  (He stole from his mother's savings to support his drug habit.) 8 »PROVE STH« to show or prove that something is true or correct  (The results support our original theory.) 9 »SPORTS TEAM« especially BrE to like a particular sports team and go to watch the games they play  (Trev supports Arsenal, but I like Spurs.) 10 »BEAR STH« (usually in negatives) formal to be able to bear something; endure  (She could not support the heat any longer.)  (- see also insupportable) ~2 n 1 »APPROVAL« approval and encouragement for an idea, plan etc  (Local people have given us a lot of support in our campaign. | in support of)  (They signed a petition in support of the pay claim. | drum up support (=get many people's approval))  (The Americans used the story to drum up support for stronger measures against Libya.) 2 »SYMPATHY/HELP« sympathetic encouragement and help that you give to someone  (Thanks for all your support at this difficult time.)  (- see also moral support moral1 (3)) 3 »HOLD STH UP« something such as a piece of wood that presses up on something else to hold it up or in position  (The roof may need extra support. | the supports of a bridge) 4 »INJURED PART OF BODY« something that you wear to hold a weak or damaged part of your body in the right place 5 »PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT STH« the people who support a political party, an idea, a team etc  (There isn't much local support for the new candidate.)