If you say that an idea, emotion, or other factor is themainspringof something, you mean that it is the most important reason or motive for that thing.
[written]
My life has been music, and a constant search for it has been the mainspring of mylife.
You begin to understand what actions were the mainspring of the story.
Synonyms: cause, inspiration, motivation, source More Synonyms of mainspring
mainspring in British English
(ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ)
noun
1.
the principal power spring of a mechanism, esp in a watch or clock
2.
the chief cause or motive of something
mainspring in American English
(ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ)
noun
1.
the principal spring in a clock, watch, or other mechanism; driving spring, whose steady uncoiling keeps the mechanism running
2.
the chief motive or cause
Examples of 'mainspring' in a sentence
mainspring
You'd swear the mainspring was winding down if it wasn't a quartz model.
Brierley, David SNOWLINE (1994)
Besides, if Dedalus was the mainspring of this particular timepiece, the information about Serman would make him nervous.
Lustbader, Eric FLOATING CITY (1994)
Definition of 'mainspring'
(noun)
Definition
the chief cause or motive of something
Music has always been the mainspring of my life.
Synonyms
cause
The article lists the major causes of panic attacks.
inspiration
She was very impressive and a great inspiration to all.
motivation
Money is my motivation.
source
This gave me a clue as to the source of the problem.
origin
theories about the origin of life
incentive
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
motive
Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing.
impulse
driving force
prime mover
Additional synonyms
in the sense of incentive
Definition
something that encourages effort or action
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
Synonyms
inducement,
motive,
encouragement,
urge,
come-on (informal),
spur,
lure,
bait,
motivation,
carrot (informal),
impulse,
stimulus,
impetus,
stimulant,
goad,
incitement,
enticement
in the sense of inspiration
Definition
a person or thing that causes this state
She was very impressive and a great inspiration to all.
Synonyms
motivation,
example,
influence,
model,
boost,
spur,
incentive,
revelation,
encouragement,
stimulus,
catalyst,
stimulation,
inducement,
incitement,
instigation,
afflatus,
inspo (slang)
in the sense of motivation
Money is my motivation.
Synonyms
incentive,
inspiration,
motive,
stimulus,
reason,
spur,
impulse,
persuasion,
inducement,
incitement,
instigation,
carrot and stick
Nearby words of
mainspring
main
main road
mainly
mainspring
mainstay
mainstream
maintain
Synonyms of 'mainspring'
mainspring
Explore 'mainspring' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of motive
Definition
the reason, whether conscious or unconscious, for a certain course of action
Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing.
Synonyms
reason,
motivation,
cause,
ground(s),
design,
influence,
purpose,
object,
intention,
spur,
incentive,
inspiration,
stimulus,
rationale,
inducement,
incitement,
mainspring,
the why and wherefore
in the sense of origin
Definition
the point, source, or event from which something develops
theories about the origin of life
Synonyms
beginning,
start,
birth,
source,
launch,
foundation,
creation,
dawning,
early stages,
emergence,
outset,
starting point,
onset,
genesis,
initiation,
inauguration,
inception,
font (poetic),
commencement,
fountain,
fount,
origination,
fountainhead,
mainspring
in the sense of source
Definition
the origin or starting point
This gave me a clue as to the source of the problem.