supply teacher BrE || substitute teacher AmE — n a teacher who takes the place of regular teachers for short periods while they are away
support/ˈsɜːrˈpɔːt/ v [T] 1 to bear the weight of, especially so as to keep in place or prevent from falling; hold up: The middle part of the bridge is supported by two huge towers. | Do you think those shelves can support so many books? | (fig.) The Federal Reserve Bank intervened to support the falling dollar. 2 a) to provide especially money for (a person) to live on: Her father supported her until she got married. | She needs a high income to support such a large family. b) to provide the necessities of life (for people or animals): This dry land won't support many cattle. 3 to pay the cost of (a habit, activity etc): He must need a fortune to support his drinking habits/extravagant tastes. 4 to approve of and encourage: Do you support their demands for independence? | The proposal was supported by a large majority in the Senate. 5 to be loyal to, especially by attending matches or performances: Which football team do you support? 6 to (seem to) show the truth or correctness of; SUBSTANTIATE: The results support my original theory. | fresh evidence to support her allegations 7 fml [(with can/cannot)] to bear; ENDURE: I cannot support this heat. → see also INSUP-PORTABLE
support² n 1 [U] the state of being supported so as not to fall: The roof may need extra support. 2 [C] something that bears the weight of something else: the supports of a bridge 3 [U] active approval aimed at helping the success of something: The local people have given us a lot of support in our campaign. | This proposal has my full support. | They signed a petition in support of the workers' demands. | We'll soon drum up support for the proposal. (=get many people's approval) 4 [U] sympathetic encouragement and help: Your support has meant a lot to me during this difficult time. 5 [U] money to live on: The judge ordered him to be kept in custody as he had no (visible) means of support. (=had no money or job) ➔ see also CHILD SUPPORT 6 [C] an apparatus which is worn to hold in place a weak or displaced part of the body
sup·port·a·ble /səˈpɔːtəbəlll-ɔːr-/ adj [usually in negatives] fml bearable ➔ opposite INSUPPORTABLE
supporter /səˈpɔːtər/ n a person who supports a particular activity or team, defends a particular principle etc: I'm a strong supporter of women's rights. | Several of the English football supporters were arrested after the match.
sup'port group n a group of people who meet to help each other with a particular problem, e.g. alcoholism
sup,porting 'part also sup,porting 'role n a small part in a play or film
sup,porting 'programme BrE || opening number, opening show AmE — n the film or films shown in addition to the main film in a performance, or the performers in a show who appear in addition to the main star
sup·por·tive /səˈpɔːtɪvˈlɜːr-/ adj aprec giving (additional)
· encouragement, help etc, especially to someone who is in a
difficult position: Mary was so supportive when my husband
died.
sup•pose¹ /səˈpəuz/ v [T not usually in progressive forms]
1 [+(that);eb] to consider to be probable; ASSUME: As she's not here, I suppose she must have gone home. | There's no reason to suppose that his new book will be any better than his last one. |
'He must have missed the train, then.' 'Yes, I suppose so.' | I don't suppose she'll agree. | (in polite requests) I don't suppose you could give me a lift to the station, could you? 2 [+obj+to-v/adj; usually pass.] fml to believe; have as an opinion: He was generally supposed to have left the country. | She was commonly supposed (to be) extremely rich. 3 fml to have as a condition; PRESERPOSE: The company's plan supposes a steady increase in orders. 4 be supposed to a) to have a duty or responsibility to do something; Everyone is supposed to bring a bottle to the party. | You're not supposed to smoke in here. (=you are not allowed to) b) to be intended to: This law is supposed to help the poor. c) to be generally considered to be; have the REPUTATION of being: I haven't seen it myself, but it's supposed to be a very good film.
It's a good idea, but suppose your mother were to find out? 2 (used for making a suggestion): Suppose we wait a while.
suppose² also sup·pos·ing /səˈpəʊzɪŋ/ conj 1 what would/will happen if: Suppose it rains, what shall we do? | sup·posed /səˈpəuzd, səˈpəuzd/ adj [A] often derog believed to be (so), though without much proof: Her supposed wealth is in fact a very small sum. | supposed experts
sup·pos·ed·ly /səˈpəʊzɪdli/ adv as is believed, perhaps wrongly; as it appears: Supposedly, she's a rich woman. | this supposedly unbiased report
sup·po·si·tion /ˌsʌpəˈzɪʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of supposing or guessing: His version of the events is pure supposition. (=is based only on guessing) 2 [S(+that)] an idea which is a result of this; a guess: The police are acting on the supposition that she took the money.
sup·pos·i·to·ry /səˈpɑːzɪtəriˈləsəˈpɑːzɪtɔːri/ n a small piece of easily meltable medicine that can be placed inside a lower opening of the body (the RECTUM or the VAGINA) → compare PESSARY
sup·press /sə'pres/ v [T] 1 to destroy or bring to an end by force: Opposition to the government was quickly suppressed. 2 to prevent from being shown: She could hardly suppress a smile. | You shouldn't try to suppress your feelings of anger. 3 to prevent from being printed or made public: The government used their emergency powers to suppress the truth about the accident. —ion /sə'preʃən/ n [U(of)] The suppression of the revolt took a mere two days.
sup·pu·rate /'sʌpjʰreɪt/ v [1] (of a wound) to form or give out PUS (=infected matter) —ration /,sʌpjʰ'reɪʃən/ n [U]
sup•pres•sor /sə'presər/ n 1 a person or thing that suppresses 2 BrE a small apparatus which prevents an electrical machine from causing INTERFERENCE (=bad quality sound or a bad picture) on a television or radio
su·pra·na·tion·al /ˌsuːprəˈnæʃənəl/ adj concerning more than one country; going beyond national powers, interests, borders etc: a supranational organization
su·prem·a·cist /sə'preməs↑st/ n a person who believes in the supremacy of the stated group: a white supremacist (=someone who believes in the supremacy of white people)
su·prem·a·cy /sə'preməsi/ n [U] the state of being supreme: Germany planned to challenge Britain's naval supremacy. | their unchallenged supremacy in the field of electronics
su•preme /suːˈpriːm, sjuː-, sə-ˈlʊ-ˌsu-ˌsuː-/ adj 1 having the highest position, with regard to power, importance, or influence: An American general was appointed Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. 2 highest in degree: supreme happiness/courage | It required a supreme effort of will to stop myself from laughing. | Soldiers who die for their country are said to have made the supreme sacrifice. → see also SUPREMELY
su·prême /suːˈpriːm, -ˈprem, sjʊ-ˈsu-, suː-/ adj [F] Fr (of a food) served with a thick rich liquid made with cream and eggs: chicken suprême
Su,preme 'Being, the fml God
Su,preme 'Court, the n 1 the most important court of law in the US, which is also the final court of APPEAL and therefore has the right to change legal decisions made by any other US court. There are nine SUPREME COURT JUSTICES who judge all the cases in the Supreme Court. 2 the most important court of law in some countries and in most of the states of the US → see Feature on page A23
CULTURAL NOTE The Supreme Court deals with cases that are concerned with people's CONSTITUTIONAL rights (=rights that are written down in the US CONSTITUTION), such as the right to speak freely and the right to fair and equal treatment. Cases that are dealt with in the Supreme Court are often related to things that people have very strong opinions about, such as ABORTION.
Su,preme Court 'Justice ~ one of the nine judges of the US Supreme Court. Each Supreme Court Justice is chosen by the President of the US and must then be accepted by Congress, and they usually have this position for the rest of their lives. The most important judge is called the CHIEF JUSTICE.