clockwork

English

Etymology

From clock +‎ -work.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈklɑkwɝk/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈklɒkwɜːk/

Noun

clockwork (usually uncountable, plural clockworks)

1. A mechanism powered by a coiled spring and regulated by some form of escapement; the power is transmitted through toothed gearwheels and used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.
   • 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 67:

     Many contrivances for making model horses move up and down as on roundabouts were patented in 1887, and toy horses pulling toy carts were made to imitate galloping by means of clockwork.

2. The action of behaving mechanically in the manner of a clock.
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “An Evening Alone”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 307:

     The mind feeds upon the body: pale sickness, and early decrepitude, overmaster even its spiritual essence. Too late it discovers that this earth is its prison, and not its home: the heart beats, and its pulses are the clockwork of wretchedness:...

Derived terms

• clockworklike
• clockwork orange
• clockwork radio
• clockwork universe
• clockworky
• like atomic clockwork
• like clockwork

 

Translations

mechanism powered by coiled spring to drive mechanical device

• Bulgarian: часовников механизъм (časovnikov mehanizǎm)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 发条装置, 钟表机构

• Dutch: uurwerk (nl) n
• French: rouage (fr)
• German: Federwerk n, Uhrwerk (de) n
• Icelandic: klukkuverk n, úrverk n, gangverk (is) n
• Irish: oibriú cloig
• Italian: orologeria (it) f, meccanismo a molla m
• Japanese: からくり (ja) (karakuri), ぜんまい仕掛け (ぜんまいじかけ, zenmaijikake)
• Norwegian: urverk n
• Polish: zegarowy mechanizm sprężynowy m
• Portuguese: corda (pt) f
• Spanish: cuerda (es) f, mecanismo (es) m, mecanismo de relojería m, engranaje (es) m,
• Swedish: urverk (sv)

Adjective

clockwork (not comparable) (attributive)

1. Driven by clockwork.
2. Very smooth and regular.
   • 1962 April, J. M. Tolson, “The Nederlands Railways today: III: Signalling and freight”, in Modern Railways, page 244:

     In their freight, as in their passenger operations, the N.S. present a picture of clockwork efficiency.

References

• “clockwork”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.