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Beginner's Dictionary
       

sus·tain

sustain

 
 
pronunciation:
s steIn
features:
Word Parts
part of speech: verb
inflections: sustains, sustaining, sustained
definition 1: to supply with necessary food, water, and other basic things for life.
They were lucky to have enough to sustain themselves through the winter.
synonyms:
support
similar words:
care for, maintain, nurse, provide for, take care of
definition 2: to keep (something) going.
This part of the desert is too hot to sustain human life.There is enough money to sustain the youth program for another year.
similar words:
carry, continue, preserve
derivations: sustainable (adj.), sustainingly (adv.), sustainment (n.)
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