Dictionary
mainspring
noun main·spring \ˈmān-ˌspriŋ\
: the most important spring in a watch or clock
: the most important or powerful cause or part of something
Full Definition of MAINSPRING
1
: the chief spring in a mechanism especially of a watch or clock
2
: the chief or most powerful motive, agent, or cause
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First Known Use of MAINSPRING
1591
Rhymes with MAINSPRING
Anqing, backswing, Baoding, bedspring, Beijing, bi-swing, bitewing, bowstring, bullring, Chongqing, clearwing, downswing, drawstring, D ring, earring, first-string, forewing, G-string, greenwing, growth ring, hairspring, hamstring, handspring, headspring, heartstring, hind wing, hot spring, Kunming, lacewing, lapwing, latchstring, left-wing, Nanjing, Nan Ling, Nanning, O-ring, offspring, plaything, redwing, right-wing, seal ring, shoestring, slip ring, sure thing, unsling, unstring, upspring, upswing, waxwing, wellspring, whitewing, wingding, Xining
MAINSPRING Defined for Kids
mainspring
noun main·spring \ˈmān-ˌspriŋ\
Definition of MAINSPRING for Kids
: the principal spring in a mechanical device (as a watch or clock)
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