gear

[ geer ]

noun

1. Machinery.
   1. a part, as a disk, wheel, or section of a shaft, having cut teeth of such form, size, and spacing that they mesh with teeth in another part to transmit or receive force and motion.
   2. an assembly of such parts.
   3. one of several possible arrangements of such parts in a mechanism, as an automobile transmission, for affording different relations of torque and speed between the driving and the driven machinery, or for permitting the driven machinery to run in either direction:

      first gear;

      reverse gear.

   4. a mechanism or group of parts performing one function or serving one purpose in a complex machine:

      steering gear.

2. implements, tools, or apparatus, especially as used for a particular occupation or activity; paraphernalia:

   fishing gear.

   Synonyms: rig, tackle, outfit, equipment

3. a harness, especially of horses.
4. Nautical.
   1. the lines, tackles, etc., of a particular sail or spar.
   2. the personal tools, clothing, and other possessions of a sailor.
5. portable items of personal property, including clothing; possessions:

   The campers keep all their gear in footlockers.

6. wearing apparel; clothing:

   The fashion pages of the Sunday paper are featuring the latest fall gear.

7. armor or arms.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide with or connect by gearing.
2. to put in or into gear.
3. to provide with gear; supply; equip.
4. to prepare, adjust, or adapt to a particular situation, person, etc., in order to bring about satisfactory results:

   The producers geared their output to seasonal demands.

verb (used without object)

1. to fit exactly, as one part of gearing into another; come into or be in gear.

adjective

1. Slang. great; wonderful.

verb phrase

1. 1. to make or get ready for a future event or situation:

      Insiders say the senator is gearing up to run for governor.

   2. to get or put on equipment or clothing for a particular purpose:

      The hikers geared up for the long trek down the mountain.

   3. to arouse or excite, as with enthusiasm or expectation:

      The employees were geared up for a hard battle with management over working hours.

2. 1. Automotive. to shift the transmission of a vehicle to a lower gear:

      The truck driver geared down at the top of the hill.

   2. to reduce in scope or intensity:

      With less income you'll have to gear down your spending habits.

gear

/ ɡɪə /

noun

1. a toothed wheel that engages with another toothed wheel or with a rack in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
2. a mechanism for transmitting motion by gears, esp for a specific purpose

   the steering gear of a boat

3. the engagement or specific ratio of a system of gears

   high gear

   in gear

4. personal equipment and accoutrements; belongings
5. equipment and supplies for a particular operation, sport, etc

   fishing gear

6. nautical all equipment or appurtenances belonging to a certain vessel, sailor, etc
7. short for landing gear
8. informal.
   up-to-date clothes and accessories, esp those bought by young people
9. slang.
   1. stolen goods
   2. illegal drugs
10. a less common word for harness
11. in gear
    working or performing effectively or properly
12. out of gear
    out of order; not functioning properly

verb

1. tr to adjust or adapt (one thing) so as to fit in or work with another

   to gear our output to current demand

2. tr to equip with or connect by gears
3. intr to be in or come into gear
4. tr to equip with harness

gear

/ gîr /

1. A wheel with teeth around its rim that mesh with the teeth of another wheel to transmit motion. Gears are used to transmit power (as in a car transmission) or change the direction of motion in a mechanism (as in a differential axle). Fixed ratios of speed in various parts of a machine is often established by the arrangement of gears.

Derived Forms

• ˈgearless, adjective

Other Words From

• gear·less adjective
• re·gear verb
• un·geared adjective
• well-geared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gear¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gørvi; akin to Old English gearwe “equipment”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gear¹

C13: from Old Norse gervi; related to Old High German garawī equipment, Old English gearwe

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in gear,
   1. Machinery. in the state in which gears are connected or meshed:

      The car is in gear.

   2. in proper or active working order; functioning continuously without trouble:

      Every department in this company must be in gear at all times.

2. in / into high gear, in or into a state of utmost speed, activity, or efficiency: Chiefly British, ininto top gear.

   With cold and flu season in high gear, it's time to perfect your chicken soup recipe.

   Military rearmament moved into high gear.

3. out of gear, Machinery. in the state in which gears are not connected or meshed:

   The engine is out of gear.

4. shift / switch gears, to change one's attitude, course of action, methods, etc., in an abrupt, dramatic, or unexpected manner:

   In the middle of the second act the play shifts gears from comedy to tragedy.

More idioms and phrases containing gear

see high gear ; slip a cog (gear) .

Example Sentences

Trump has said there's no price tag so there is already a tremendous amount of activity taking place in the private sector, with private prison and airplane businesses gearing up for some major government contracts.

From Salon

With those inner gears finely tuned, the filmmakers sought a unique visual environment, a throwback artistically and a step forward technologically — one that felt human.

From Los Angeles Times

Everything about this Nations League campaign has been geared towards the ultimate goal of reaching the 2026 World Cup.

From BBC

Set in the fictional coastal town of Wellington-on-Sea, the film follows a handful of families gearing up for Christmas Day.

From BBC

Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are gearing up to take their relationship to the next level: marriage.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adapt
• adjust
• fit
• organize
• regulate
• tailor