gear

plural gears

1. uncountableEquipment or paraphernalia, especially that used for an athletic endeavor.
2. countableuncountableClothing; garments.

   Aray thy selfe in her most gorgeous geare

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 26

   1 more example

   Those Eastern winters, ⁠I can't endure 'em / So every year I pack my gear and come out here till Purim / Rosh Hashanah, I spend in Arizona

   1990, “(I'm Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica”, in Tom Lehrer (music), The Remains of Tom Lehrer, performed by Tom Lehrer, published 2000

3. countableobsoleteuncountableGoods; property; household items.

   Homely gear and common ware.

   1551, Thomas More, “(please specify the Internet Archive page)”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC

4. countableA wheel, wheel segment, or bar with grooves (teeth) engraved on the outer circumference, such that two such devices can interlock and convey motion from one to the other.

   Near-synonyms: (wheel types) cog, cogwheel, gear wheel, gearwheel

   Synonyms: cog, cogwheel, gear wheel, gearwheel

5. countableautomotiveA particular combination or choice of interlocking gears, such that a particular gear ratio is achieved; often selected via a shifter.
   1. countableautomotiveA configuration of the transmission of a motor car so as to achieve a particular ratio of engine to axle torque.
6. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableaeronauticsEllipsis of landing gear.

   gear-up landing

   1 more example

   Get the gear down quick!

7. slanguncountableRecreational drugs, including steroids.

   getting on gear

   1 more example

   "Have you got any gear? Dominic, have you got any acid?" Emma kept running her hands nervously through her hair. "Not LSD, man; that last trip freaked me out."

   2003, Marianne Hancock, Looking for Oliver, page 90

8. archaicuncountableStuff.

   1 more example

   When he was digged up, which was in the presence of the Magistracy of the Town, his body was found entire, not at all putrid, no ill smell about him, saving the mustiness of the grave-Clothes, his joynts limber and flexible, as in those that are alive, his skin only flaccid, but a more fresh grown in the room of it, the wound of his throat gaping, but no gear nor corruption in it; there was also observed a Magical mark in the great toe of his right foot, viz. an Excrescency in the form of a Rose.

   1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book III, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 113

9. countableobsoleteuncountableBusiness matters; affairs; concern.

   goe they both together to their geare.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 30

10. UKcountabledialectalobsoleteuncountableAnything worthless; nonsense; rubbish.

    March 29, 1549, Hugh Latimer, the fourth sermon preached before King Edward That servant of his that confessed and uttered this gear was an honest man.

present singular third person gears · participle present gearing · participle past geared · past geared

1. transitiveengineeringTo provide with gearing; to fit with gears in order to achieve a desired gear ratio.
2. intransitiveengineeringTo be in gear, come into gear.
3. To dress; to put gear on; to harness.
4. usuallyTo design or devise (something) so as to be suitable (for a particular type of person or a particular purpose).

   They have geared the hotel mainly at tourists.

   1 more example

   This shop is not really geared towards people of our age.

5. businessTo borrow money in order to invest it in assets.

comparative more gear · superlative most gear

1. chiefly Liverpoolgreat or fantastic

1. A surname.