noun

el resorte

spring

Objeto de metal en forma de espiral que puede estirarse o comprimirse y luego vuelve a su forma original.

Word: resorte

Meaning in English:

Spring (mechanical)
A "resorte" is a mechanical device made of flexible material, usually metal, that stores mechanical energy and releases it when needed by twisting, compressing, or stretching. It's commonly found in objects like pens, mattresses, clocks, and vehicle suspensions.
Resort / Option / Resource (figurative use)
In a more figurative sense, "resorte" can refer to a resource, means, or option someone uses to achieve something or to make a decision. It sometimes implies a kind of motivation or the "trigger" for action.

Parts of the Word:

The word "resorte" comes from the verb "sortear," meaning "to overcome" or "to sort out," but in this context refers more to the idea of a spring or something that "springs" back.

Synonyms:

For the mechanical meaning:
- muelle (Spanish alternative for a mechanical spring)
- espiral (spiral, sometimes used if describing coil springs)
For the figurative meaning:
- recurso (resource)
- herramienta (tool, resource)
- medio (means)

Antonyms:

For the mechanical spring, there are no direct antonyms but you could contrast it with rigid objects that don't bend or store energy.
For the figurative sense, an antonym might be an obstacle or limitation, such as "impedimento" but it's context-dependent.

Examples:

El resorte de la pluma está roto, por eso no funciona.
(The spring in the pen is broken, that's why it doesn't work.)
Como último resorte, recurrimos a un experto para resolver el problema.
(As a last resort, we turned to an expert to solve the problem.)