1 (often gears) a toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of a driving mechanism (such as the engine of a vehicle) and the speed of the driven parts (the wheels):a racing bike with ten-speed gears
a particular setting of engaged gears:he was belting along in fifth gear
used in reference to the level of effort or intensity expended in an activity or undertaking:from this weekend, the campaign is expected to step up a gearnow the champions moved up a gearthe play moves down a gear whenever he walks off stage
2 [mass noun, usually with modifier] equipment or apparatus that is used for a particular purpose:camping gear
informal clothing, especially of a specified kind:designer gear
informal personal possessions and clothes:I told her to come back to my place with all her gear
British informal illegal drugs:Murray got him some gear
ზმნა
Universal
design or adjust the gears in a machine to give a specified speed or power output:the vehicle’s geared too high for serious off-road use
change (or switch or shift) gear
adopt a different approach to a situation or task:from February 1942, British air strategy changed gear
in (or into) gear
with a gear engaged:he revved the engines and put them in gear
proceeding with energy, determination, or speed:I couldn’t get myself into gear early enough on Saturday morning
out of gear
with no gear engaged:she took the engine out of gear figurativesometimes his brain seems to slip out of gear
gear down
change to a lower gear:we geared down to creep through the square
gear someone/thing for
make ready; prepare:a nation geared for war
gear something for/to/towards
adapt something to make it suitable for (someone or something):our trips are geared for clubbers and hen and stag partiesthey gear workouts to your specific needs
gear up
1equip or prepare oneself:the region geared up for the tourist season
2change to a higher gear.
(of a company) increase its borrowings:the group will be gearing up this year
gear someone/thing up
adapt or equip someone or something for a purpose:a city not geared up to an outdoor lifestyle
