main ‧ tain S2 W1 AC /meɪnˈteɪn, mən-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ maintain ; noun : ↑ maintenance ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: maintenir , from Latin manu tenere 'to hold in the hand' ]
1 . MAKE SOMETHING CONTINUE to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before:
Careers Officers maintain contact with young people when they have left school.
Britain wants to maintain its position as a world power.
A lot depends on building and maintaining a good relationship with your customers.
The hotel prides itself on maintaining high standards.
How can we maintain control of spending?
2 . LEVEL/RATE to make a level or rate of activity, movement etc stay the same:
It is important to maintain a constant temperature inside the greenhouse.
This is the most efficient way to build up and maintain a reasonable level of physical fitness.
3 . SAY to strongly express your belief that something is true SYN claim
maintain (that)
Critics maintain that these reforms will lead to a decline in educational standards.
maintain your innocence (=say that you did not commit a crime)
He maintained his innocence and said the allegations were ‘ridiculous’.
4 . LOOK AFTER SOMETHING to keep a machine, building etc in good condition by checking and repairing it regularly:
The report found that safety equipment had been very poorly maintained.
The company is responsible for maintaining public telephone boxes.
5 . PROVIDE MONEY/FOOD to provide someone with the things they need, such as money or food SYN provide for :
How can you maintain a family on $900 a month?
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THESAURUS
▪ claim to say that something is true, even though it has not been proved:
He claims that he didn’t see anything.
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She claims to be a descendant of Charles Dickens.
▪ allege to claim that someone did something wrong or illegal, although you do not give any proof:
It is alleged that he murdered his wife.
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Patients allege that the two firms failed to warn doctors about the dangers of taking the drugs over a long period.
▪ maintain to repeatedly say that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you:
He continued to maintain his innocence, even after he was sent to prison.
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My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.
▪ insist to say very firmly that something is true:
She insists that Tom was there, although he denies it.
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Turkey insists that there is more than enough water in the two rivers for all three countries.
▪ assert formal to state that something is true – used especially in formal writing when reporting someone’s opinion:
They assert that children work better on their own.
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The Environment Minister asserted that one third of the country’s cities had major pollution problems.
▪ contend formal to claim that something is true, especially when other people disagree with you:
Lawyers contend that his back problems were due to an existing injury, not the accident.
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It is possible, as Kennedy contends, that her medical condition is caused by her work.