1 the support, especially financial, that is given to a person or an organization by a patron 赞助；资助: Patronage of the arts comes mainly from businesses and private individuals. 对艺术的资助主要来自企业及个人。

2 the system by which an important person gives help or a job to sb in return for his/her support 恩施或恩惠制度

3 (especially US 尤为美) the support that a person gives a shop, restaurant, etc by spending money there （对商店、旅馆等的）惠顾，光顾