gear
Americannoun
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Machinery.
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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.
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an assembly of such parts.
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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.
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a mechanism or group of parts performing one function or serving one purpose in a complex machine.
steering gear.
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implements, tools, or apparatus, especially as used for a particular occupation or activity; paraphernalia.
fishing gear.
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a harness, especially of horses.
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Nautical.
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the lines, tackles, etc., of a particular sail or spar.
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the personal tools, clothing, and other possessions of a sailor.
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portable items of personal property, including clothing; possessions.
The campers keep all their gear in footlockers.
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wearing apparel; clothing.
The fashion pages of the Sunday paper are featuring the latest fall gear.
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armor or arms.
verb (used with object)
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to provide with or connect by gearing.
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to put in or into gear.
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to provide with gear; supply; equip.
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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)
adjective
verb phrase
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gear up
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to make or get ready for a future event or situation.
Insiders say the senator is gearing up to run for governor.
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to get or put on equipment or clothing for a particular purpose.
The hikers geared up for the long trek down the mountain.
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to arouse or excite, as with enthusiasm or expectation.
The employees were geared up for a hard battle with management over working hours.
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gear down
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Automotive. to shift the transmission of a vehicle to a lower gear.
The truck driver geared down at the top of the hill.
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to reduce in scope or intensity.
With less income you'll have to gear down your spending habits.
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idioms
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in / into high gear, in or into a state of utmost speed, activity, or efficiency: null 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.
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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.
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out of gear, in the state in which gears are not connected or meshed.
The engine is out of gear.
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in gear,
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Machinery. in the state in which gears are connected or meshed.
The car is in gear.
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in proper or active working order; functioning continuously without trouble.
Every department in this company must be in gear at all times.
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noun
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a toothed wheel that engages with another toothed wheel or with a rack in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
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a mechanism for transmitting motion by gears, esp for a specific purpose
the steering gear of a boat
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the engagement or specific ratio of a system of gears
in gear
high gear
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personal equipment and accoutrements; belongings
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equipment and supplies for a particular operation, sport, etc
fishing gear
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nautical all equipment or appurtenances belonging to a certain vessel, sailor, etc
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short for landing gear
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informal up-to-date clothes and accessories, esp those bought by young people
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slang
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stolen goods
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illegal drugs
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a less common word for harness
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working or performing effectively or properly
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out of order; not functioning properly
verb
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(tr) to adjust or adapt (one thing) so as to fit in or work with another
to gear our output to current demand
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(tr) to equip with or connect by gears
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(intr) to be in or come into gear
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(tr) to equip with harness
Other Word Forms
- gearless adjective
- regear verb
- ungeared adjective
- well-geared adjective
Etymology
Origin of gear
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gørvi; akin to Old English gearwe “equipment”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company has tried make its stores more inviting, punching up displays for toys, videogames and athletic gear, while leaning on artificial intelligence, women’s clothing and beauty products.
From MarketWatch
Instead, he plowed money into services such as ski valets, who wear yellow jackets and help guests carry their gear.
Getting entangled in fishing gear and debris, as Porkchop was, is among the top reasons turtles land in the aquarium’s care.
From Los Angeles Times
A vintage magazine ad boasts of the studio’s high-end gear as well as its “large screen video lounge” and “a playroom with pong, pinball and bumper pool.”
From Los Angeles Times
MLB owners are gearing up to argue for a salary cap in the only major American professional sport without one.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
