GEAR


Meaning of GEAR in English

/ gɪə(r); NAmE gɪr/ noun , verb

■ noun

IN VEHICLE

1.

[ C , usually pl. ] machinery in a vehicle that turns engine power (or power on a bicycle) into movement forwards or backwards :

Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears.

—picture at bicycle

2.

[ U , C ] a particular position of the gears in a vehicle that gives a particular range of speed and power :

first / second, etc. gear

reverse gear

low / high gear

( BrE )

bottom / top gear

( BrE )

to change gear

( NAmE )

to shift gear

When parking on a hill, leave the car in gear .

What gear are you in?

He drove wildly, crashing through the gears like a maniac.

EQUIPMENT / CLOTHES

3.

[ U ] the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity :

climbing / fishing / sports, etc. gear

—see also headgear , riot gear ➡ note at equipment

4.

[ U ] ( informal ) clothes :

wearing the latest gear

➡ note at clothes

POSSESSIONS

5.

[ U ] ( informal ) the things that a person owns :

I've left all my gear at Dave's house.

MACHINERY

6.

[ U ] (often in compounds) a piece of machinery used for a particular purpose :

lifting / towing / winding, etc. gear

—see also landing gear

SPEED / EFFORT

7.

[ U , C ] used to talk about the speed or effort involved in doing sth : ( BrE )

The party organization is moving into top gear as the election approaches.

( NAmE )

to move into high gear

Coming out of the final bend, the runner stepped up a gear to overtake the rest of the pack.

DRUGS

8.

[ U ] ( slang ) illegal drugs

IDIOMS

- get into gear | get sth into gear

- (slip / be thrown) out of gear

IDIOMS

see ass

■ verb

PHRASAL VERBS

- gear sth to / towards sth

- gear up (for / to sth) | gear sb/sth up (for / to sth)

••

WORD ORIGIN

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

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.