Tra từ maintain - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

main·tain AW [maintain maintains maintained maintaining] BrE [meɪnˈteɪn] NAmE [meɪnˈteɪn] verb
1. ~ sth to make sth continue at the same level, standard, etc.
Syn: ↑preserve
•to maintain law and order/standards/a balance
• The two countries have always maintained close relations.
• (formal) She maintained a dignified silence.
•to maintain prices (= prevent them falling or rising)
2. ~ sth to keep a building, a machine, etc. in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly
• The house is large and difficult to maintain.
3. to keep stating that sth is true, even though other people do not agree or do not believe it
Syn: ↑insist
•~ (that)… The men maintained (that) they were out of the country when the crime was committed.
•~ sth She has always maintained her innocence.
•+ speech ‘But I'm innocent!’ she maintained.
4. ~ sb/sth to support sb/sth over a long period of time by giving money, paying for food, etc.
Syn: ↑keep
• Her income was barely enough to maintain one child, let alone three.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English (also in the sense ‘practise an action habitually’): from Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere ‘hold in the hand’.

Thesaurus:
maintain verb
1. T
•We must maintain law and order.
keep sth up • • preserve • • sustain • • extend • • prolong • |especially spoken keep sth going • |formal perpetuate • |often disapproving, especially business prop sth up •
maintain/keep up/preserve/sustain standards/a relationship
maintain/keep up/sustain levels/rates/morale/interest/growth
maintain/preserve/sustain/extend/prolong (sb's) life
Maintain or sustain? Maintain is used especially to talk about keeping sth at its usual level for an unlimited period of time; sustain is used more to talk about keeping sth at a higher level than usual for a long but not unlimited period
•Is the role of the state simply to maintain the status quo?
• How long can such fast growth be sustained?
2. T
•The house and its grounds are beautifully maintained.
preserve • • service • • keep sth up •
maintain/preserve a house
maintain/service a/an car/appliance
have/keep sth maintained/preserved/serviced

Language Bank:
argue
Verbs for reporting an opinion
▪ Some critics argue ▪ that Picasso remained a great master all his life.
▪ Others maintain ▪ that there is a significant deterioration in quality in his post-war work.
▪ Picasso himself claimed ▪ that good art is created, but great art is stolen.
As ▪ Smith has noted ▪, Picasso borrowed imagery from African art.
As ▪ the author points out ▪, Picasso borrowed imagery from African art.
▪ The writer challenges the notion that ▪ Picasso's sculpture was secondary to his painting.
It has been suggested that ▪ Picasso's painting was influenced by jazz music.
Language Banks at ↑about, ↑according to

Example Bank:
•His priority is to maintain and protect his family.
•Under the terms of the agreement she had forfeited her right to be maintained by her husband.
•Commercial aircraft generally maintain cabin altitudes between 6 000 and 8 000 feet.
•He emphasized the need to maintain the status quo.
•He has always maintained his innocence.
•He successfully maintained the financial health of the company.
•It is difficult to maintain that such a harsh punishment was justified.
•The company has easily maintained its position as the leading brand in the money-transfer business.
•The government's position became increasingly difficult to maintain.
•They are looking to cut costs while simultaneously maintaining the existing levels of service.
•This pace cannot be maintained indefinitely.
•We are anxious to maintain our close links with the police.
•a poorly maintained central heating system
•I do a lot of mechanical work and I maintain my own car.
•Our principle task is to maintain law and order.
•She has always maintained her innocence.
•The grounds are beautifully maintained.
•The wheel spats collect debris and make it difficult to maintain the brakes.