gear

[ geer ]

/ gɪər /

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See synonyms for: gear / geared / gearing / gears 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR gear

2 equipment, outfit, tackle, rig.

See synonyms for gear on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gear in a sentence

You can convince them to leave their home, though, by giving them the proper gear to keep them warm and cozy.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold|Sandra Gutierrez G.|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
Giuliani’s strategy isn’t geared toward winning legal arguments, Greabe theorizes.
Rudy Giuliani’s post-election meltdown starts to become literal|Dan Zak, Josh Dawsey|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
In the Navigator, the small differences between its many gear ratios keep the down-changes subtle and smooth, in keeping with the big luxury SUV’s overall character.
Backing up a trailer is really hard, but this $100,000 SUV offers a new solution|Dan Carney|November 19, 2020|Popular-Science
Alas, I don’t own a crossbow, slingshot, or potato cannon and was thus dependent on a skinny biceps and an iffy sidearm to launch my gear into the canopy.
On Sleeping in the Largest Organism on Earth|Leath Tonino|November 19, 2020|Outside Online

The watch is geared for athletes—especially triathletes—and its simple user interface speaks to a device that aims to perform well in a specific niche.
This new workout watch can tell when you switch activities|Rob Verger|November 17, 2020|Popular-Science
Micah is 10 years old and he had a coat geared to the season, a Patagonia winter jacket with a hood.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner|Mike Barnicle|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the case of Miss America, these role models are particularly geared towards women.
There She Is! Deport the Miss America Pageant.|Amy Zimmerman|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2009 Grindr debuted, a dating (or, really, hook-up) app geared towards gay, bi-sexual, and bi-curious men.
Swipe Right For Sex: Mixxxer Is Tinder for the Porn Star Set|Aurora Snow|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The conversation now around books like The Hunger Games is how much violence is too much violence in a book geared at children.
R.L. Stine’s Secret to Scaring the Crap Out of Kids|Kevin Fallon|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
It was a fourteen-horse-power engine, water-cooled, and geared with a chain to the propeller.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
Fanlight openers for single lights, or geared for a number of sashes, may be designed to suit positions difficult of access.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 4|Various
The disc of the timer, known as the "commutator," is so geared that it revolves in unison with the motor.
The Gasoline Motor|Harold Whiting Slauson
This fan is generally attached to a bracket at the front of the motor, and is driven either by a belt or geared shaft.
The Gasoline Motor|Harold Whiting Slauson
Geared to swift activity, the big Pyrran found it impossible not to decide quickly.
Deathworld|Harry Harrison

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with gear

gear

see high gear; slip a cog (gear).

gear

OTHER WORDS FOR gear

Idioms about gear

Origin of gear

OTHER WORDS FROM gear

Words related to gear

How to use gear in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gear

Derived forms of gear

Word Origin for gear

Scientific definitions for gear

Other Idioms and Phrases with gear