¹gear

noun \ˈgir\

: supplies, tools, or clothes needed for a special purpose

: a toothed wheel in a machine

: a part that connects the engine of a vehicle or the pedals of a bicycle to the wheels and controls the speed at which the wheels turn

Full Definition of GEAR

a : clothing, garments

b : movable property : goods

: equipment, paraphernalia <fishing gear>

a : the rigging of a ship or boat

b : the harness especially of horses

dial chiefly British : absurd talk : nonsense

dial chiefly British : doings

a (1) : a mechanism that performs a specific function in a complete machine <steering gear> (2) : a toothed wheel (3) : working relation, position, order, or adjustment <got her career in gear> (4) : a level or pace of functioning <kicked their performance into high gear>

b : one of two or more adjustments of a transmission (as of a bicycle or motor vehicle) that determine mechanical advantage, relative speed, and direction of travel

— gear·less \-ləs\ adjective

See gear defined for English-language learners

See gear defined for kids

Illustration of GEAR

Origin of GEAR

Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gǫrvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment, clothing, gearu ready — more at yare

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GEAR

Synonyms: accoutrements (or accouterments), apparatus, equipment, hardware, kit [chiefly British], material(s), matériel (or materiel), outfit, paraphernalia, stuff, tackle

²gear

verb

: to make (something) suitable for a particular use or type of person

Full Definition of GEAR

transitive verb

a : to provide (as machinery) with gearing

b : to connect by gearing

a : to make ready for effective operation

b : to adjust so as to match, blend with, or satisfy something <gearing wages to productivity>

intransitive verb

a British of machinery : to be in gear : mesh

b : shift 1c <gear down>

: to become adjusted so as to match, blend, or harmonize

See gear defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of GEAR

1851

GEAR[1] Defined for Kids

¹gear

noun \ˈgir\

Definition of GEAR for Kids

: equipment <camping gear>

: a group of parts that has a specific function in a machine <steering gear>

: a toothed wheel : cogwheel

: the position the gears of a machine are in when they are ready to work <in gear>

: one of the adjustments in a motor vehicle that determine the direction of travel and the relative speed between the engine and the motion of the vehicle <reverse gear>

: working order or condition <He got his career in gear.>