/ 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.).