Support the flag (8)
I believe the answer is:
standard
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'support' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'flag' is the second definition.
(I know that flag can be written as standard)
'the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for standard that I've seen before include "Flag; criterion" , "Grade" , "authority" , "Military flag" , "kind of lamp" .)