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

The videos are part of the new Outspoken project — a new media platform Log Cabin is gearing up to launch the same week as the Republican National Convention takes place.

From Washington Blade

As with any new piece of gear, get familiar with your lights before taking them out on the road.

From Outside Online

Health care professionals who don’t have the protective gear they need.

From Washington Blade

Huawei widened its lead as the world’s largest manufacturer of telecommunications gear and overtook Samsung and Apple to become the world’s No.

From Fortune

At the start of the pandemic, more than 800 distillers quickly switched gears and jumped into action to make hand sanitizer for their local first responders and communities.

From Fortune

And so, he says he left prison without proper ID, just his release papers and the “dress-out gear” he was given by the state.

From The Daily Beast

We, on the other hand, on the police side, will naturally gear up to deal with any potential contingency that might occur.

From The Daily Beast

The best thing about winter is seeing all the cute kids bundled up in their cold-weather gear.

From The Daily Beast

These self-dubbed gear heads go toe to toe (or perhaps more accurately, crash to crash), with the men in the sport.

From The Daily Beast

Photos he would share on Facebook this year show Hauchard in Raqqa, wearing combat gear and wielding a variety of heavy weapons.

From The Daily Beast

The controlling leaders being out of gear the machine did not run smoothly: there was nothing but friction and tension.

From Project Gutenberg

A piece of iron sticking out from the cross-head carried the plug-rod for working the gear-handles.

From Project Gutenberg

The valves, gear, and nozzles were perhaps improved in detail; but the groundwork was unchanged.

From Project Gutenberg

Two valves turned the steam on and off from under the piston, with the ordinary gear and handles.

From Project Gutenberg

The first shot demolished the top gear of one of the ships, bringing down the men; and the other ships kept a safe distance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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