gear

 
Pronunciation: /gɪə/

noun

  • 1 (often gears) a toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of a driving mechanism (such as the engine of a vehicle) and the speed of the driven parts (the wheels): a racing bike with ten-speed gears
  • a particular setting of engaged gears: he was belting along in fifth gear
  • used in reference to the level of effort or intensity expended in an activity or undertaking: from this weekend, the campaign is expected to step up a gear now the champions moved up a gear the play moves down a gear whenever he walks off stage
  • 2 [mass noun, usually with modifier] equipment or apparatus that is used for a particular purpose: camping gear
  • informal clothing, especially of a specified kind: designer gear
  • informal personal possessions and clothes: I told her to come back to my place with all her gear
  • British informal illegal drugs: Murray got him some gear

verb

[with object]
  • design or adjust the gears in a machine to give a specified speed or power output: the vehicle’s geared too high for serious off-road use

Phrases

change (or switch or shift) gear

adopt a different approach to a situation or task: from February 1942, British air strategy changed gear

in (or into) gear

with a gear engaged: he revved the engines and put them in gear
proceeding with energy, determination, or speed: I couldn’t get myself into gear early enough on Saturday morning

out of gear

with no gear engaged: she took the engine out of gear figurative sometimes his brain seems to slip out of gear

Phrasal Verbs

gear down

change to a lower gear: we geared down to creep through the square

gear someone/thing for

make ready; prepare: a nation geared for war

gear something for/to/towards

adapt something to make it suitable for (someone or something): our trips are geared for clubbers and hen and stag parties they gear workouts to your specific needs

gear up

  • 1equip or prepare oneself: the region geared up for the tourist season
  • 2change to a higher gear.
  • (of a company) increase its borrowings: the group will be gearing up this year

gear someone/thing up

adapt or equip someone or something for a purpose: a city not geared up to an outdoor lifestyle

Origin:

Middle English: of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse gervi. Early senses expressed the general meaning 'equipment or apparatus', later 'mechanism': hence gear (sense 1 of the noun) (early 19th century)