clockwork

views updated May 11 2018

clock·work / ˈkläkˌwərk/ • n. a mechanism with a spring and toothed gearwheels, used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.• adj. driven by clockwork: a clockwork motor. ∎  very smooth and regular: the clockwork precision of the galaxy. ∎  repetitive and predictable.PHRASES: like clockwork very smoothly and easily: the event ran like clockwork. ∎  with mechanical regularity: these hens lay like clockwork.