2 VERB If you sustain something such as a defeat, loss, or injury, it happens to you. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Every aircraft in there has sustained some damage. □ [V -ed] A tourist died of injuries sustained in the bomb blast.
3 VERB If something sustains you, it supports you by giving you help, strength, or encouragement. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The cash dividends they get from the cash crop would sustain them during the lean season. SYNONYMS sustain VERB
1
maintain: Push yourself to make friends and to maintain the friendships.
continue: Outside the building people continue their vigil, huddling around bonfires.
keep up: I was so hungry all the time that I could not keep the diet up for longer than a month.
prolong: The actual action of the drug can be prolonged significantly.
2
suffer: The peace process has suffered a serious blow now.
undergo: He underwent an agonising 48-hour wait for the results of tests.
experience: British business is now experiencing a severe recession.
sus|tain|able /səste I nəb ə l/
1 ADJ You use sustainable to describe the use of natural resources when this use is kept at a steady level that is not likely to damage the environment. □ Try to buy wood that you know has come from a sustainable source. ● sus|tain|abil|ity /səste I nəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the growing concern about environmental sustainability.
2 ADJ A sustainable plan, method, or system is designed to continue at the same rate or level of activity without any problems. □ The creation of an efficient and sustainable transport system is critical to the long-term future of London. ● sus|tain|abil|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …doubts about the sustainability of the current economic expansion.
sus|te|nance /sʌ st I nəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Sustenance is food or drink which a person, animal, or plant needs to remain alive and healthy. [FORMAL ] □ The state provided a basic quantity of food for daily sustenance, but little else.
su|ture /suː tʃə r / (sutures ) N‑COUNT A suture is a stitch made to join together the open parts of a wound, especially one made after a patient has been operated on. [MEDICAL ]
SUV /e s juː viː / (SUVs ) N‑COUNT An SUV is a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground. SUV is an abbreviation for 'sport utility vehicle'.
svelte /sve lt, sfe lt/ ADJ Someone who is svelte is slim and looks attractive and elegant. [APPROVAL ]
SW in AM, also use S.W. SW is a written abbreviation for south-west . □ …King's Road, London SW 3.
swab /swɒ b/ (swabs , swabbing , swabbed )
1 N‑COUNT A swab is a small piece of cotton wool used by a doctor or nurse for cleaning a wound or putting a substance on it.
2 VERB If you swab something, you clean it using a wet cloth or a tool called a mop. □ [V n] I noticed a lone man in the cafeteria swabbing the floor as I passed.
swad|dle /swɒ d ə l/ (swaddles , swaddling , swaddled ) VERB If you swaddle a baby, you wrap cloth around it in order to keep it warm or to prevent it from moving. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V n] Swaddle your newborn baby so that she feels secure. □ [V -ed] …a baby swaddled in silk brocade.
swag /swæ g/ (swags )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Swag is stolen goods, or money obtained illegally. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 N‑COUNT A swag is a piece of material that is put above a window and hangs down in a decorative way.
swag|ger /swæ gə r / (swaggers , swaggering , swaggered ) VERB If you swagger , you walk in a very proud, confident way, holding your body upright and swinging your hips. □ [V prep/adv] A broad-shouldered man wearing a dinner jacket swaggered confidently up to the bar. □ [V -ing] He was an arrogant, swaggering young man. [Also V ] ● N‑SING Swagger is also a noun. □ He walked with something of a swagger.
swain /swe I n/ (swains ) N‑COUNT A swain is a young man who is in love. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
swal|low /swɒ loʊ/ (swallows , swallowing , swallowed )
1 VERB If you swallow something, you cause it to go from your mouth down into your stomach. □ [V n] You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B. □ [V ] Polly took a bite of the apple, chewed and swallowed. ● N‑COUNT Swallow is also a noun. □ Jan lifted her glass and took a quick swallow.
2 VERB If you swallow , you make a movement in your throat as if you are swallowing something, often because you are nervous or frightened. □ [V ] Nancy swallowed hard and shook her head.
3 VERB If someone swallows a story or a statement, they believe it completely. □ [V n] It was vital that he swallowed the story about Juanita being in that motel room that night.
4 N‑COUNT A swallow is a kind of small bird with pointed wings and a forked tail.
5 a bitter pill to swallow → see pill
▸ swallow up
1 PHRASAL VERB If one thing is swallowed up by another, it becomes part of the first thing and no longer has a separate identity of its own. □ [V P n] During the 1980s monster publishing houses started to swallow up smaller companies. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If something swallows up money or resources, it uses them entirely while giving very little in return. □ [V P n] The 20 per cent deposit will swallow up most of the 20,000 he has set aside. □ [V -ed P ] Farmers could see a quarter of their income swallowed up by the interest rate rise. [Also V n P ]