gear

gear [gir]

n.

[ME gere, prob. < ON gervi, preparation, ornament, akin to OE gearo, YARE]

1.

a) Obs. the clothing and equipment of a soldier, knight, etc.

b) clothing; apparel

2. movable property; esp., apparatus or equipment for some particular task, as a workman's tools, the rigging of a ship, a harness, etc.

3.

a) a toothed wheel, disk, etc. designed to mesh with another or with the thread of a worm

b) [often pl.] a system of two or more gears meshed together so that the motion of one controls the speed and torque of another

c) a specific adjustment of such a system

d) any part of a mechanism performing a specific function [the steering gear]

adj.

[Slang, Chiefly Brit.] highly acceptable, attractive, etc.

vt.

1. to furnish with gear; harness

2. to adapt (one thing) so as to conform with another [to gear production to demand]

3. Mech.

a) to connect by gears

b) to furnish with gears

c) to put into gear

vi.

Mech. to be in, or come into, proper adjustment or working order

to be in, or come into, proper adjustment or working order

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gear down

to adjust gears so that the driven element goes slower than the driving element, with a consequent increase in torque

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gear up

1. to adjust gears so that the driven element goes faster than the driving element, with a consequent decrease in torque

2. to accelerate; increase efficiency (of) [the factory geared up production]

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☆ high gear

1. the arrangement of gears providing the greatest speed but little torque

2. Informal high speed or efficiency

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in gear or out of gear

1. (not) connected to the motor

2. (not) in proper adjustment or working order

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☆ low gear

1. the arrangement of gears providing little speed but great torque

2. Informal low speed or efficiency

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reverse gear

the arrangement of gears providing reverse, or backward, motion

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☆ shift gears

1. to change from one gear arrangement to another

2. to change one's approach in handling a problem