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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"term": "maintain",
"partOfSpeech": "verb",
"academic": true,
"ox3000": true,
"cefr": "b2",
"verbForms": {
"presentSimple": {
"iYouWeThey": "maintain",
"heSheIt": "maintains"
},
"pastSimple": "maintained",
"pastParticiple": "maintained",
"ingForm": "maintaining"
},
"definitions": [
{
"senseNumber": 1,
"definition": "to make something continue at the same level, standard, etc.",
"sensetop": "maintain something",
"labels": "(formal)",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "to maintain law and order/standards/a balance/control"
},
{
"text": "ANU has maintained its position as Australia's top university."
},
{
"text": "The two countries have always maintained close relations."
},
{
"text": "She maintained a dignified silence."
},
{
"text": "to maintain prices *(= prevent them from falling or rising)*"
},
{
"text": "Building and maintaining good relationships is an important part of what we do."
},
{
"text": "He emphasized the need to maintain the status quo."
},
{
"text": "She successfully maintained the financial health of the company."
},
{
"text": "The government's position became increasingly difficult to maintain."
},
{
"text": "They are looking to cut costs while simultaneously maintaining the existing levels of service."
},
{
"text": "This pace cannot be maintained indefinitely."
},
{
"text": "Security personnel struggled to maintain order."
},
{
"text": "Email is used to maintain contact with members."
}
],
"synonyms": "preserve",
"collocations": {
"verb + maintain": ["be anxious to", "want to", "have to"],
"adverb": ["indefinitely", "simultaneously", "successfully"],
"phrases": [
"the duty to maintain something",
"the need to maintain something"
]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 2,
"definition": "to keep a building, a machine, etc. in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly",
"sensetop": "maintain something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The house is large and difficult to maintain."
},
{
"text": "a poorly maintained central heating system"
},
{
"text": "I do a lot of mechanical work and I maintain my own car."
},
{
"text": "The grounds are beautifully maintained."
},
{
"text": "As long as you maintain the brakes, chain and battery, repair costs are minimal for electric bicycles."
}
],
"topics": ["Buildings"],
"collocations": {
"adverb": ["carefully", "properly", "well"],
"verb + maintain": ["be difficult to", "be easy to"],
"phrases": ["be responsible for maintaining something"]
}
},
{
"senseNumber": 3,
"definition": "to support somebody/something over a long period of time by giving money, paying for food, etc.",
"sensetop": "maintain somebody/something",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "Her income was barely enough to maintain one child, let alone three."
},
{
"text": "His priority is to maintain and protect his family."
},
{
"text": "She could no longer afford to maintain her horse."
},
{
"text": "Maintaining a modern, well-equipped armed force is a challenge."
}
],
"synonyms": "keep"
},
{
"senseNumber": 4,
"definition": "to keep stating that something is true, even though other people do not agree or do not believe it",
"sensetop": "maintain (that)…maintain something+ speech",
"cefr": "b2",
"ox3000": true,
"examples": [
{
"text": "The men maintained (that) they were out of the country when the crime was committed.",
"contextForm": "maintain (that)…"
},
{
"text": "It is difficult to maintain that such a harsh punishment was justified."
},
{
"text": "She has always **maintained her innocence**.",
"contextForm": "maintain something"
},
{
"text": "‘But I'm innocent!’ she maintained.",
"contextForm": "+ speech"
}
],
"synonyms": "insist",
"topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
}
],
"pronunciations": {
"uk": [
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪn/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintain__gb_3.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnz/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintains__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnd/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintained__gb_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintaining__gb_1.mp3"
}
],
"us": [
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪn/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintain__us_2.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnz/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintains__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnd/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintained__us_1.mp3"
},
{
"pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/",
"audio": "ma/maintain/maintaining__us_1.mp3"
}
]
},
"wordOrigin": "Middle English (also in the sense ‘practise an action habitually’): from Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere ‘hold in the hand’."
}