Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [meyn-spring]
- /ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ/
- /ˈmeɪn.sprɪŋ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [meyn-spring]
- /ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ/
Definitions of mainspring word
- noun mainspring the principal spring in a mechanism, as in a watch. 1
- noun mainspring the chief motive power; the impelling cause. 1
- noun mainspring The principal spring in a watch, clock, or other mechanism. 1
- noun mainspring primary impetus 1
- noun mainspring principal spring of a watch 1
- countable noun mainspring If you say that an idea, emotion, or other factor is the mainspring of something, you mean that it is the most important reason or motive for that thing. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of mainspring
First appearance:
before 1585 One of the 35% oldest English words
First recorded in 1585-95; main1 + spring
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Mainspring
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
mainspring popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 73% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
mainspring usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for mainspring
noun mainspring
- heart — Anatomy. a hollow, pumplike organ of blood circulation, composed mainly of rhythmically contractile smooth muscle, located in the chest between the lungs and slightly to the left and consisting of four chambers: a right atrium that receives blood returning from the body via the superior and inferior vena cavae, a right ventricle that pumps the blood through the pulmonary artery to the lungs for oxygenation, a left atrium that receives the oxygenated blood via the pulmonary veins and passes it through the mitral valve, and a left ventricle that pumps the oxygenated blood, via the aorta, throughout the body.
- ground — the act of grinding.
- origin — something from which anything arises or is derived; source; fountainhead: to follow a stream to its origin.
- substance — that of which a thing consists; physical matter or material: form and substance.
- basis — If something is done on a particular basis, it is done according to that method, system, or principle.
Antonyms for mainspring
noun mainspring
- outcome — a final product or end result; consequence; issue.
- result — to spring, arise, or proceed as a consequence of actions, circumstances, premises, etc.; be the outcome.
- outside — the outer side, surface, or part; exterior: The outside of the house needs painting.
- consequence — The consequences of something are the results or effects of it.
- effect — something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with m
- Words starting with ma
- Words starting with mai
- Words starting with main
- Words starting with mains
- Words starting with mainsp
- Words starting with mainspr
- Words starting with mainspri
- Words starting with mainsprin
- Words starting with mainspring