Standard Lemma guide

mainspring

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The principal spring of a clockwork mechanism, which drives it by uncoiling.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, horology, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The most important reason for, or element of, something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • My daughter is the mainspring of my life.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the most important spring in a mechanical device (especially a clock or watch); as it uncoils it drives the mechanism

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spring

History

Etymology

From main + spring. For figurative sense, compare spring (“source, origin”).

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: زمبلك (zambálek) — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Armenian: զսպանակ (zspanak) — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Catalan: ressort motor — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Chinese: 發條 /发条 (fātiáo) — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Estonian: vedru — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Finnish: vieteri — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • French: ressort moteur — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • German: Antriebsfeder — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • German: Triebfeder — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • German: Hauptfeder — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Ido: granda resorto — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Japanese: ぜんまいばね — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Kannada: ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ (pradhāna prēraṇe) — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Northern Kurdish: zenbelka serekî — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Manx: ard-lheimaghan — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Polish: sprężyna napędowa — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Spanish: resorte motor — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Thai: ลาน (laan) — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Turkish: zemberek — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Urdu: بڑی کمانی — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism
  • Vietnamese: dây cót chính — the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism