Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

mainstay

 noun
     
main‧stay

the mainstay of something

a) an important part of something that makes it possible for it to work properly or continue to exist:
Agriculture is still the mainstay of the country's economy.
b) someone who does most of the important work for a group or organization:
She was the mainstay of the team.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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