gear

/gɪər/

/gɪə/

Other forms: gears; geared; gearing

The noun gear refers to several things. First, it’s the equipment we need for a sport or event. A gear is also a wheel with teeth that interlocks with another gear to transmit motion in a machine.

The background of gear as "equipment" dates back to around 1200 and comes from the Old Norse gervi, "apparel." The word gear in machinery became common in the early 19th century, although there is evidence that the word came to mean "toothed wheel" as early as 1520. Gear entered English slang around 1951, meaning something stylish. This use was popularized in the 1960s, under the influence of British pop music.

Definitions of gear

1. noun

   a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
   synonyms: cogwheel, gear wheel, geared wheel

   types:

   bevel gear, pinion and crown wheel, pinion and ring gear

   gears that mesh at an angle

   escape wheel

   gear that engages a rocking lever

   pinion

   a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack

   epicyclic gear, planet gear, planet wheel, planetary gear

   an outer gear that revolves about a central sun gear of an epicyclic train

   rack and pinion

   a wheel gear (the pinion) meshes with a toothed rack; converts rotary to reciprocating motion (and vice versa)

   spur gear, spur wheel

   gear wheels that mesh in the same plane

   sun gear

   the central gear in an epicyclic train

   worm gear

   gear consisting of a shaft with screw thread (the worm) that meshes with a toothed wheel (the worm wheel); changes the direction of the axis of rotary motion

   worm wheel

   gear with the thread of a worm

   differential, differential gear

   a bevel gear that permits rotation of two shafts at different speeds; used on the rear axle of automobiles to allow wheels to rotate at different speeds on curves

   lantern pinion, lantern wheel

   a small pinion having cylindrical bars instead of teeth, used chiefly in inexpensive clocks

   type of:

   wheel

   a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
2. noun

   a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle)
   synonyms: gear mechanism

   types:

   first, first gear, low, low gear

   the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

   gearset

   a set of gears

   high, high gear

   a forward gear with a gear ratio that gives the greatest vehicle velocity for a given engine speed

   park

   a gear position that acts as a parking brake

   reverse, reverse gear

   the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed

   second, second gear

   the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle

   steering gear

   a gear that couples the steering wheel to the steering linkage of a motor vehicle

   third, third gear

   the third from the lowest forward ratio gear in the gear box of a motor vehicle

   transmission, transmission system

   the gears that transmit power from an automobile engine via the driveshaft to the live axle

   neutral

   a disengaged position, as of gears

   automatic drive, automatic transmission

   a transmission that automatically changes the gears according to the speed of the car

   4WD, four-wheel drive

   a transmission that provides power directly to all four wheels of a motor vehicle

   hydraulic transmission, hydraulic transmission system

   a transmission that depends on a hydraulic system

   overdrive

   a high gear used at high speeds to maintain the driving speed with less output power

   standard transmission, stick shift

   a transmission that is operated manually with a gear lever and a clutch pedal

   type of:

   mechanism

   device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function
3. noun

   wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed
   synonyms: gearing, geartrain, power train, train

   types:

   epicyclic gear train, epicyclic train

   a system of epicyclic gears in which at least one wheel axis itself revolves about another fixed axis

   reduction gear

   gearing that reduces an input speed to a slower output speed

   type of:

   wheelwork

   mechanical device including an arrangement of wheel in a machine (especially a train of gears)
4. verb

   set the level or character of
   synonyms: pitch

   types:

   popularise, popularize

   make understandable to the general public

   type of:

   accommodate, adapt

   make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
5. noun

   equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.
   synonyms: appurtenance, paraphernalia

   types:

   fishing gear, fishing rig, fishing tackle, rig, tackle

   gear used in fishing

   kit, outfit

   gear consisting of a set of articles or tools for a specified purpose

   regalia

   paraphernalia indicative of royalty (or other high office)

   rig

   gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise

   rigging, tackle

   gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails

   saddlery, stable gear, tack

   gear for a horse

   bit

   piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding

   caparison, housing, trapping

   stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially (formerly) for a warhorse

   carpenter's kit, tool kit

   a set of carpenter's tools

   cinch, girth

   stable gear consisting of a band around a horse's belly that holds the saddle in place

   crown jewels

   regalia (jewelry and other paraphernalia) worn by a sovereign on state occasions

   drill rig, drilling rig, oil rig, oilrig

   rig used in drilling for oil or gas

   first-aid kit

   kit consisting of a set of bandages and medicines for giving first aid

   hame

   stable gear consisting of either of two curved supports that are attached to the collar of a draft horse and that hold the traces

   harness

   stable gear consisting of an arrangement of leather straps fitted to a draft animal so that it can be attached to and pull a cart

   headgear

   stable gear consisting of any part of a harness that fits about the horse's head

   layette

   kit consisting of a complete outfit (clothing and accessories) for a new baby

   martingale

   a harness strap that connects the nose piece to the girth; prevents the horse from throwing back its head

   mess kit

   kit containing a metal dish and eating utensils; used by soldiers and campers

   horse blanket, saddle blanket, saddlecloth

   stable gear consisting of a blanket placed under the saddle

   sewing kit

   a kit of articles used in sewing

   yoke

   stable gear that joins two draft animals at the neck so they can work together as a team

   type of:

   equipment

   an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service