clockwork
|clock/work|
🇺🇸
/ˈklɑːkˌwɜrk/
🇬🇧
/ˈklɒkˌwɜːk/
precision mechanism
Etymology
'clockwork' originates from the combination of 'clock' and 'work', where 'clock' referred to a timekeeping device and 'work' referred to the mechanism or operation.
'clockwork' evolved from the Middle English word 'clokke' (clock) and 'werk' (work), eventually becoming the modern English word 'clockwork'.
Initially, it referred specifically to the mechanism inside clocks, but over time it evolved to describe anything operating with precision and regularity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a mechanism with a series of gears and springs, typically found in clocks and watches, that operates with precision and regularity.
The clockwork inside the antique watch was still functioning perfectly.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
describing something that operates with precision and regularity, like a clockwork mechanism.
The team's performance was clockwork, executing every play flawlessly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/15 13:22