mainspring
[ meyn-spring ]
/ ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ /
noun
the principal spring in a mechanism, as in a watch.
the chief motive power; the impelling cause.
RELATED WORDS
emotion, motivation, impulse, influence, idea, aim, intention, intent, rationale, consideration, passion, feeling, cause, provenance, element, motive, source, connection, ancestry, ancestor
Nearby words
mainmast, mainour, mains, mainsail, mainsheet, mainspring, mainstay, mainstream, mainstream corporation tax, mainstreamer, mainstreaming
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for mainspring
British Dictionary definitions for mainspring
mainspring
/ (ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ) /
noun
the principal power spring of a mechanism, esp in a watch or clock
the chief cause or motive of something
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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