gear

[ geer ]

/ gɪər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: gear / geared / gearing on Thesaurus.com

noun

Machinery.

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.
an assembly of such parts.
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.
a mechanism or group of parts performing one function or serving one purpose in a complex machine: steering gear.

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

a harness, especially of horses.

Nautical.

the lines, tackles, etc., of a particular sail or spar.
the personal tools, clothing, and other possessions of a sailor.

portable items of personal property, including clothing; possessions: The campers keep all their gear in footlockers.

wearing apparel; clothing: The fashion pages of the Sunday paper are featuring the latest fall gear.

armor or arms.

verb (used with object)

to provide with or connect by gearing.

to put in or into gear.

to provide with gear; supply; equip.

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)

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

adjective

Slang. great; wonderful.

Verb Phrases

gear down,

Automotive. to shift the transmission of a vehicle to a lower gear: The truck driver geared down at the top of the hill.
to reduce in scope or intensity: With less income you'll have to gear down your spending habits.

gear up,

to make or get ready for a future event or situation: Insiders say the senator is gearing up to run for governor.
to get or put on equipment or clothing for a particular purpose: The hikers geared up for the long trek down the mountain.
to arouse or excite, as with enthusiasm or expectation: The employees were geared up for a hard battle with management over working hours.

SYNONYMS FOR gear

2 equipment, outfit, tackle, rig.

See synonyms for gear on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

WERE YOU BAMBOOZLED BY THE WORDS FROM FEBRUARY?

We understand! Words are tricky that way. Take this quiz on the Words of the Day from February, 2021, to show that you’re far from frumious!

Question 1 of 10

Which Word of the Day means “happening within or being the created world of a story”?

diegetic

cheeseparing

parlous

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for gear

in gear,

Machinery. in the state in which gears are connected or meshed: The car is in gear.
in proper or active working order; functioning continuously without trouble: Every department in this company must be in gear at all times.

in / into high gear, in or into a state of utmost speed, activity, or efficiency: Military rearmament moved into high gear.

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

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.

Origin of gear

1150–1200; Middle English gere<Old Norse gervi, gørvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment

OTHER WORDS FROM gear

gearless, adjectivere·gear, verbun·geared, adjectivewell-geared, adjective

Words nearby gear

gds., Gdynia, Ge, gean, geanticline, gear, gearbox, gear cluster, gear down, gearing, gear knob

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for gear

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.
Log Cabin’s new project seeks to duplicate success of Grenell video|Chris Johnson|August 26, 2020|Washington Blade
As with any new piece of gear, get familiar with your lights before taking them out on the road.
What You Need to Know About Bike Lights|Aaron Rickel|August 26, 2020|Outside Online
Health care professionals who don’t have the protective gear they need.
Sen. Baldwin draws on inequities in health care, wealth in convention speech|Chris Johnson|August 21, 2020|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.
Huawei said the U.S. couldn’t ‘crush’ it. Trump is starving it instead|claychandler|August 20, 2020|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.
Craft distillers have lost out on more than $700 million in sales because of the pandemic|Rachel King|August 20, 2020|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.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We, on the other hand, on the police side, will naturally gear up to deal with any potential contingency that might occur.
After No Indictment for Eric Garner Killer, Is NYC the Next Ferguson?|Jacob Siegel|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The best thing about winter is seeing all the cute kids bundled up in their cold-weather gear.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Blue Ivy in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These self-dubbed gear heads go toe to toe (or perhaps more accurately, crash to crash), with the men in the sport.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Photos he would share on Facebook this year show Hauchard in Raqqa, wearing combat gear and wielding a variety of heavy weapons.
Showing the Faces of Its Murderers, ISIS Shows Its Global Reach|Tracy McNicoll|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The controlling leaders being out of gear the machine did not run smoothly: there was nothing but friction and tension.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
A piece of iron sticking out from the cross-head carried the plug-rod for working the gear-handles.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The valves, gear, and nozzles were perhaps improved in detail; but the groundwork was unchanged.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Two valves turned the steam on and off from under the piston, with the ordinary gear and handles.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The first shot demolished the top gear of one of the ships, bringing down the men; and the other ships kept a safe distance.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison

British Dictionary definitions for gear

gear

/ (ɡɪə) /

noun

a toothed wheel that engages with another toothed wheel or with a rack in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion

a mechanism for transmitting motion by gears, esp for a specific purposethe steering gear of a boat

the engagement or specific ratio of a system of gearsin gear; high gear

personal equipment and accoutrements; belongings

equipment and supplies for a particular operation, sport, etcfishing gear

nautical all equipment or appurtenances belonging to a certain vessel, sailor, etc

short for landing gear

informal up-to-date clothes and accessories, esp those bought by young people

slang

stolen goods
illegal drugs

a less common word for harness (def. 1)

in gear working or performing effectively or properly

out of gear out of order; not functioning properly

verb

(tr) to adjust or adapt (one thing) so as to fit in or work with anotherto gear our output to current demand

(tr) to equip with or connect by gears

(intr) to be in or come into gear

(tr) to equip with harness

Derived forms of gear

gearless, adjective

Word Origin for gear

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for gear

gear

[ gîr ]

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.

Idioms and Phrases with gear

gear

see high gear; slip a cog (gear).

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

gear