gear

[ geer ]

/ gɪər /

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.

Words nearby gear

ge'ez, ge-, ge-pano-carib, gean, geanticline, gear, gear cluster, gear down, gear knob, gear lever, gear pump

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

SYNONYMS FOR gear

2 equipment, outfit, tackle, rig.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR gear ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM gear

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for geared

A blandly written, barely acted sitcom about high schoolers but geared toward adolescents?
How Bad Was 'The Unauthorized Saved By the Bell Story'?|Kevin Fallon|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The total is often geared to years served – for example, 14 days after five years.
Obama’s Extravagant Summer Break? More Like, America’s Vacation-Deficit Disorder|Clive Irving|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If American life is geared to profit, Brazilian life is geared to goals.
Why Americans Should Love the World Cup|Sean Wilsey|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Politics is not geared toward long-term thinking—far from it—but that is what complicated tech projects require.
Even the Most Powerful Man in the World Is at the Mercy of the IT Guy|Jill Lawrence|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Geared toward both novices and up-and-coming competitors, classes include Sexy Pole Dance Basics or Pole Dance Workout Advanced.
12 Priciest Fitness Classes (Actually Worth the Splurge)|DailyBurn|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For bolts of larger diameter requiring more force than can be exerted by a hand lever, a geared hand bolt cutter is employed.
Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II|Joshua Rose
The driving motor of two horse power is geared by double reduction gearing to the driving wheels at one end of the hoist.
The New York Subway|Anonymous
The indeterminate thing beside the searchlight turned out to be a hand pump, geared to work against heavy pressure.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science September 1930|Various
I geared up the bays, and we splashed out through the mud, some precarious, until we found the road again.
Heart of the West|O. Henry
This ensures that the valve shall be lifted only once in two revolutions of the crank shaft to which it is geared.
How it Works|Archibald Williams

British Dictionary definitions for geared

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

Science definitions for geared

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 geared

gear

see high gear; slip a cog (gear).

gear

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

Verb Phrases

Content related to gear

Words related to gear

Words nearby gear

Idioms for gear

Origin of gear

SYNONYMS FOR gear

OTHER WORDS FROM gear

Examples from the Web for geared

British Dictionary definitions for geared

noun

verb

Derived forms of gear

Word Origin for gear

Science definitions for geared

Idioms and Phrases with geared