The act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence.

synonyms: maintenance, sustainment, sustenance, upkeep.

Roget 298: eating etc. v.; deglutition, gulp, epulation^†, mastication, manducation^†, rumination; gluttony etc. 957.    [eating specific foods] hippophagy^†, ichthyophagy^†.    [Eating anatomy:] (appetite) etc. 865; mouth, jaws, mandible, mazard^†, gob [Slang], chops.    drinking etc. v.; potation, draught, libation; carousal etc. (amusement) 840; drunkenness etc. 959.    food, pabulum; aliment, nourishment, nutriment; sustenance, sustentation, sustention; nurture, subsistence, provender, corn, feed, fodder, provision, ration, keep, commons, board; commissariat etc. (provision) 637; prey, forage, pasture, pasturage; fare, cheer; diet, dietary; regimen; belly timber, staff of life; bread, bread and cheese.    comestibles, eatables, victuals, edibles, ingesta; grub, grubstake, prog^†, meat; bread, bread stuffs; cerealia^†; cereals; viands, cates^†, delicacy, dainty, creature comforts, contents of the larder, fleshpots; festal board; ambrosia; good cheer, good living.    beef, bisquit^†, bun; cornstarch [U.S.]; cookie, cooky [U.S.]; cracker, doughnut; fatling^†; hardtack, hoecake [U.S.], hominy [U.S.]; mutton, pilot bread; pork; roti^†, rusk, ship biscuit; veal; joint, piece de resistance [Fr.], roast and boiled; remove, entremet^†, releve [Fr.], hash, rechauffe [Fr.], stew, ragout, fricassee, mince; pottage, potage^†, broth, soup, consomme, puree, spoonmeat^†; pie, pasty, volauvent^†; pudding, omelet; pastry; sweets etc. 296; kickshaws^†; condiment etc. 393.    appetizer, hors d'oeuvre [Fr.].    main course, entree.    alligator pear, apple &c., apple slump; artichoke; ashcake^†, griddlecake, pancake, flapjack; atole^†, avocado, banana, beche de mer [Fr.], barbecue, beefsteak; beet root; blackberry, blancmange, bloater, bouilli^†, bouillon, breadfruit, chop suey [U.S.]; chowder, chupatty^†, clam, compote, damper, fish, frumenty^†, grapes, hasty pudding, ice cream, lettuce, mango, mangosteen, mince pie, oatmeal, oyster, pineapple, porridge, porterhouse steak, salmis^†, sauerkraut, sea slug, sturgeon ("Albany beef"), succotash [U.S.], supawn [U.S.], trepang^†, vanilla, waffle, walnut.    table, cuisine, bill of fare, menu, table d'hote [Fr.], ordinary, entree.    meal, repast, feed, spread; mess; dish, plate, course; regale; regalement^†, refreshment, entertainment; refection, collation, picnic, feast, banquet, junket; breakfast; lunch, luncheon; dejeuner [Fr.], bever^†, tiffin^†, dinner, supper, snack, junk food, fast food, whet, bait, dessert; potluck, table d'hote [Fr.], dejeuner a la fourchette [Fr.]; hearty meal, square meal, substantial meal, full meal; blowout [Slang]; light refreshment; bara^†, chotahazri^†; bara khana^†.    mouthful, bolus, gobbet^†, morsel, sop, sippet^†.    drink, beverage, liquor, broth, soup; potion, dram, draught, drench, swill [Slang]; nip, sip, sup, gulp.    wine, spirits, liqueur, beer, ale, malt liquor, Sir John Barleycorn, stingo^†, heavy wet; grog, toddy, flip, purl, punch, negus^†, cup, bishop, wassail; gin etc. (intoxicating liquor) 959; coffee, chocolate, cocoa, tea, the cup that cheers but not inebriates; bock beer, lager beer, Pilsener beer, schenck beer^†; Brazil tea, cider, claret, ice water, mate, mint julep [U.S.]; near beer, 3.   2 beer, non-alcoholic beverage.    eating house etc. 189.    [person who eats] diner; hippophage; glutton etc. 957.    ... show more

Roget 707: aid, aidance^†; assistance, help, opitulation^†, succor; support, lift, advance, furtherance, promotion; coadjuvancy etc. (cooperation) 709^†.    patronage, championship, countenance, favor, interest, advocacy.    sustentation, subvention, alimentation, nutrition, nourishment; eutrophy; manna in the wilderness; food etc. 298; means etc. 632.    ministry, ministration; subministration^†; accommodation.    relief, rescue; help at a dead lift; supernatural aid; deus ex machina [Lat.].    supplies, reinforcements, reenforcements^†, succors, contingents, recruits; support etc. (physical) 215; adjunct, ally etc. (helper) 711.    ... show more

Roget 215: support, ground, foundation, base, basis; terra firma; bearing, fulcrum, bait [U.S.], caudex crib^†; point d'appui [Fr.], pou sto [Gr.], purchase footing, hold, locus standi [Lat.]; landing place, landing stage; stage, platform; block; rest, resting place; groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention; floor etc. (basement) 211.    supporter; aid etc. 707; prop, stand, anvil, fulciment^†; cue rest, jigger; monkey; stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage; sleeper; stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit^†, outrigger; ratlings^†.    staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle^†; bourdon^†, cowlstaff^†, lathi^†, mahlstick^†.    post, pillar, shaft, thill^†, column, pilaster; pediment, pedicle; pedestal; plinth, shank, leg, socle^†, zocle^†; buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment; baluster, banister, stanchion; balustrade; headstone; upright; door post, jamb, door jamb.    frame, framework; scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis^†, trave^†, corner stone, summer, transom; rung, round, step, sill; angle rafter, hip rafter; cantilever, modillion^†; crown post, king post; vertebra.    columella^†, backbone; keystone; axle, axletree; axis; arch, mainstay.    trunnion, pivot, rowlock^†; peg etc. (pendency) 214^†; tiebeam etc. (fastening) 45; thole pin^†.    board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet^†, trivet, arbor, rack; mantel, mantle piece [Fr.], mantleshelf^†; slab, console; counter, dresser; flange, corbel; table, trestle; shoulder; perch; horse; easel, desk; clotheshorse, hatrack; retable; teapoy^†.    seat, throne, dais; divan, musnud^†; chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall; arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair; couch, fauteuil [Fr.], woolsack^†, ottoman, settle, squab, bench; aparejo^†, faldstool^†, horn; long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair; lamba chauki^†, lamba kursi^†; saddle, pannel^†, pillion; side saddle, pack saddle; pommel.    bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed^†, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead; four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang^†; bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse^†; pillow, bolster; mat, rug, cushion.    footstool, hassock; tabouret^†; tripod, monopod.    Atlas, Persides, Atlantes^†, Caryatides, Hercules.    ... show more

Dutch: onderhoudsbedrijven, bestaan, kost, levensonderhoud, onderhoud, subsistentie