/sə'steɪn; sə`sten/
v [Tn]
1 (fml 文) bear (weight) without breaking or falling
*support 承受住（重量）; 支承; 支撑
*Will this shelf sustain the weight of all these books? 这个书架承受得住这些书的重量吗?
2 (a) keep (sb/sth) alive or in existence 维持（某人[某物]）的生命或存在
*You should eat good sustaining food, ie food that gives strength. 你应该吃些能增强体力的食物.
* not enough oxygen to sustain life 氧气稀少不足以维持生命
* Only the hope that the rescuers were getting nearer sustained the trapped miners, ie kept them cheerful and enabled them to stay alive. 遇难矿工盼望援救人员正在接近他们, 这是他们赖以坚持下去的唯一希望.
(b) keep (a sound, an effort, etc) going; maintain 使（声音、努力等）持续下去; 保持
*The book's weakness is the author's inability to sustain an argument. 该书的缺点在于作者未能把论证展开.
* sustain a note, ie continue to play or sing it without interruption 继续演奏（或演唱）某一音符
* make a sustained effort to finish off the work 坚持不懈以完成该项工作
* The clapping was sustained for several minutes. 掌声持续了几分钟.
3 (fml 文) undergo (sth); suffer 经受（某事物）; 遭受
*sustain a defeat, an injury, a loss 遭受失败、伤害、损失
* He sustained a severe blow on the head. 他头部受到重击.
4 (law 律) decide that (a claim, etc) is valid; uphold 确认（某项要求等）正当有效; 认可; 准许
*The court sustained his claim that the contract was illegal. 法庭确认他的要求正当, 宣布该合同不合法.
* Objection sustained! 反对有效!

v [T]

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1【make something continue】
2【suffer】
3【food/drink】
4【give strength】
5【weight】
6【idea】

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[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: sustenir, from Latin sustinere 'to hold up, sustain', from sub- 'up' + tenere 'to hold']
【MAKE SOMETHING CONTINUE】
to make something continue to exist or happen for a period of time
= maintain
　She found it difficult to sustain the children's interest.
　He was incapable of sustaining close relationships with women.
　the policies necessary to sustain economic growth
→sustained
【SUFFER】
formal to suffer damage, an injury, or loss of money
　Two of the fire-fighters sustained serious injuries.
　Some nearby buildings sustained minor damage.
　The company has sustained heavy financial losses this year.
【FOOD/DRINK】
formal if food or drink sustains a person, animal, or plant, it makes them able to continue living
　They gave me barely enough food to sustain me.
【GIVE STRENGTH】
formal to make someone feel strong and hopeful
　The thought of seeing her again was all that sustained me.
【WEIGHT】
formal to hold up the weight of something
= support
　He leant against her so heavily that she could barely sustain his weight.
【IDEA】
formal to support an idea or argument, or prove that it is right
　This argument is difficult to sustain.