gear

pronunciation

How to pronounce gear in British English: UK [ɡɪə(r)] word uk audio image

How to pronounce gear in American English: US [ɡɪr] word us audio image

Noun:

a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
a mechanism for transmitting motion by gears for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle)
equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.
Verb:

set the level or character of

Word Origin

gear: gear: [13] The etymological meaning of gear is roughly ‘that which puts one in a state of readiness’ – hence ‘equipment, apparatus’. Its ultimate source is prehistoric Indo-European *garw-, which also produced the now obsolete English adjective yare ‘ready’ and (via Germanic, Italian, and French) garh [16]. A derivative *garwīn- passed into Old Norse as gervi, which English borrowed as gear. The mechanical sense of the word developed in the 16th century.=> garb

gear (n.): c. 1200, "fighting equipment, armor and weapons," probably from Old Norse gørvi (plural gørvar) "apparel, gear," related to görr, gørr, gerr "skilled, accomplished; ready, willing," and to gøra, gørva "to make, construct, build; set in order, prepare," a very frequent verb in Old Norse, used in a wide range of situations from writing a book to dressing meat. This is from Proto-Germanic *garwjan "to make, prepare, equip" (cognates: Old English gearwe "clothing, equipment, ornament," which may be the source of some uses; Old Saxon garwei; Dutch gaar "done, dressed;" Old High German garo "ready, prepared, complete," garawi "clothing, dress," garawen "to make ready;" German gerben "to tan"). From early 14c. as "wearing apparel, clothes, dress;" also "harness of a draught animal; equipment of a riding horse." From late 14c. as "equipment generally; tools, utensils," especially the necessary equipment for a certain activity, as the rigging of a sailing ship. Meaning "toothed wheel in machinery" first attested 1520s; specific mechanical sense of "parts by which a motor communicates motion" is from 1814; specifically of a vehicle (bicycle, automobile, etc.) by 1888. Slang for "male sex organs" from 1670s.

gear (v.): c. 1200, "to equip oneself for fighting; to dress," probably from gear (n.) or from the verb in Old Norse. Mechanical meaning "put (machinery) in gear" is from 1851. Related: Geared; gearing.

gear (adj.): "stylish, excellent," British slang, 1951 (popularized c. 1963 by the Beatles), said to be from earlier that's the gear, an expression of approval (1925), from gear (n.).

vt.

1. Japanese manufacturers of high-tech gear are seeking alternative supplies .

2. Syria is off-limits to journalists , especially those toting television gear .

4. So here 's a charge for any inventors out there : create new fishing gear to reduce bycatch .

5. But constantly pulling on the front landing gear can lead to mechanical problems .