mainspring
English
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
mainspring
Where it comes from
From main + spring. For figurative sense, compare spring (“source, origin”).
noun mainsprings
- The principal spring of a clockwork mechanism, which drives it by uncoiling. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away.
- The most important reason for, or element of, something. My daughter is the mainspring of my life.
Translations
Every language
noun the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
| Español | resorte motor |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ぜんまいばね |
| Français | ressort moteur |
| Deutsch | Antriebsfeder, Triebfeder, Hauptfeder |
| Italiano | susta |
| Tiếng Việt | dây cót chính |
Talk about this word "mainspring." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/mainspring. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. mainspring. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/mainspring "mainspring." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/mainspring.Cite this
@misc{mainspring_2026,
title = {mainspring},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/mainspring},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
