: 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
Noun I somehow managed to pack all my gear into one suitcase. soldiers in full combat gear a complicated arrangement of gears and shafts a car with four forward gears Halfway up the hill, my bike slipped out of gear.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As Moskalets pulled on protective gear that still smelled of smoke from the last catastrophe, his battalion’s first engine pulled up some distance from the three-story block of apartments near the city center, a blaze visible in the back corner. Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022 Authorities in Arizona released security video Friday showing a gunman in tactical gear fire dozens of rounds in a motel parking lot last month in a shooting spree that left two people dead and several injured, including two police officers. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2022 Stain- and water-resistant clothing and outdoor gear can contain PFAS. Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 Still, Vamsi Krishna, co-founder and chief executive, said the company is profitable and called the cutbacks a gear change. Shefali Anand, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 Athletes and fashion people need very specific gear to perform at their biggest events. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Sep. 2022 The shooter who terrorized a Colorado movie theater in 2012 charged more than $9,000 worth of guns, ammunition and tactical gear in the two months leading up to his attack, which killed 12 people and injured 70. Clare Hymes, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 Ferociously tall gearing means third gear is good for 140 mph and first gear is long enough to reach highway speeds.Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2022 Wear your favorite Indians/Guardians, Browns, Cavs, Buckeyes (or even How Come Quickie) gear. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022
Verb
After the page pops up, tap the settings gear icon on the top right corner of the screen to access more options. Toby Grey, BGR, 4 Sep. 2022 Others tuck backpacks stuffed with snacks, blankets, and gear between ammunition and fuel cans. Kevin Maurer, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2022 There’s plenty from clothing to gear, from books to storage.cleveland, 6 June 2022 Because action sports are aspirational, our relationship to gear can be very emotional. Heather Hansman, Outside Online, 24 Nov. 2020 So this is a great way to gear out your alts without needing to slog through 48 more Solstice challenges. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 25 July 2022 Check out these patriotic quotes that will gear you up to celebrate the Fourth of July! Ashley Leath, Country Living, 11 July 2022 Obstacles included everything from nature to traffic to gear to self-doubt. Danny Freedman, Outside Online, 8 July 2022 When Martha announces her plans for the evening at the play's start, he's clearly exhausted, trying to gear himself up for what is to come. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gǫrvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment, clothing, gearu ready — more at yare