mainspring

main·spring

noun \ˈmān-ˌspriŋ\

Definition of MAINSPRING

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

1. Agriculture is the mainspring of their economy.

First Known Use of MAINSPRING

1591

Rhymes with MAINSPRING

Anqing, backswing, Baoding, bedspring, Beijing, bi-swing, bitewing, bowstring, bullring, Chongqing, clearwing, downswing, drawstring, D ring, earring, first-string, forewing, G-string, greenwing, growth ring, hairspring, hamstring, handspring, headspring, heartstring, hind wing, hot spring, Kunming, lacewing, lapwing, latchstring, left-wing, Nanjing, Nan Ling, Nanning, O-ring, offspring, plaything, redwing, right-wing, seal ring, shoestring, slip ring, sure thing, unsling, unstring, upspring, upswing, waxwing, wellspring, whitewing, wingding, Xining