mainspring
noun
main·spring
ˈmān-ˌspriŋ 
1
: the chief spring in a mechanism especially of a watch or clock
2
: the chief or most powerful motive, agent, or cause
Examples of mainspring in a Sentence
Agriculture is the mainspring of their economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rotating the watch to view the various pods also winds the mainspring.
—
Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
The watch is powered by a mainspring just like a mechanical watch and has a very similar gear train.
—David Flett, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2024
The movement has twin barrels and an efficient dual impulse escapement to provide 80 hours of power reserve, twice what was possible in 1967 even with a high-torque mainspring.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2024
The mainsprings of political change in Iran remain internal.
—Eric Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for mainspring 
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Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
The watch is powered by a mainspring just like a mechanical watch and has a very similar gear train.
—David Flett, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2024
The movement has twin barrels and an efficient dual impulse escapement to provide 80 hours of power reserve, twice what was possible in 1967 even with a high-torque mainspring.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2024
The mainsprings of political change in Iran remain internal.
—Eric Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for mainspring
Dictionary Entries Near mainspring
Cite this Entry
“Mainspring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainspring. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mainspring
noun
main·spring
ˈmān-ˌspriŋ
1
: the principal spring in a mechanical device (as a watch or clock)
2
: the chief or most powerful motive or cause
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