ALL meanings of mainspring
main·spring
M m - noun mainspring primary impetus 1
- noun mainspring principal spring of a watch 1
- noun mainspring The principal spring in a watch, clock, or other mechanism. 1
- 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 of a clockwork mechanism, that drives it by uncoiling. 0
- noun mainspring (figuratively) The most important reason for something. 0
- 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
- noun mainspring the principal power spring of a mechanism, esp in a watch or clock 0
- noun mainspring the chief cause or motive of something 0
- noun mainspring the principal spring in a clock, watch, or other mechanism; driving spring, whose steady uncoiling keeps the mechanism running 0
- noun mainspring the chief motive or cause 0