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gear

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.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: gear

1	n v	a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion set the level or character of
2	n	equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: gear

n 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:: show 11 types...; hide 11 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)

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

Synonyms:: gear mechanism

Types:: show 14 types...; hide 14 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; 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

n 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)

v 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

n equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.

Synonyms:: appurtenance, paraphernalia

Types:: show 22 types...; hide 22 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

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