gear

n. the special clothes or tools you need for a particular activity.

n. the collective equipment, paraphernalia, or apparatus required for a specific task or athletic pursuit.

“We packed all our camping gear into the back of the car.”

“The rescue team inspected their climbing gear meticulously before ascending the north face of the mountain.”

n. a part of a machine or vehicle that controls how much power goes to the wheels.

n. a toothed wheel that engages with another to transmit motion; also the specific ratio selected in a transmission system.

“He shifted into a lower gear to drive up the steep hill.”

“The engineer noted that the primary gear was showing signs of significant wear, likely due to insufficient lubrication during high-speed operation.”

n. clothes, especially a particular type of clothing.

n. clothing or garments, often used to describe a specific style or functional attire.

“The shop sells a lot of designer gear that is very expensive.”

“The teenagers were all dressed in the latest streetwear gear, congregating near the entrance of the skate park.”

Informal

n. the wheels of an aircraft that it uses to land.

n. the undercarriage of an aircraft, including the wheels and struts, used for takeoff and landing.

“The pilot lowered the gear as the plane approached the runway.”

“A mechanical failure prevented the nose gear from locking into place, forcing the crew to declare an emergency landing.”

n. a word for illegal drugs.

n. a slang term for recreational drugs, including narcotics or performance-enhancing steroids.

“He was caught trying to sell gear behind the nightclub.”

“The investigation revealed a sophisticated network involved in the distribution of illegal gear across the city's gyms.”

Slang · British English

v. to design or organize something so that it is suitable for a specific group or purpose.

v. to adjust or adapt something to ensure it is appropriate for a particular audience or objective; usually used with 'to' or 'towards'.

“The course is geared towards students who already have some experience.”

“The government's new economic policy is geared towards stimulating growth in the renewable energy sector over the next decade.”

v. to borrow money to buy assets or investments.

v. to use borrowed capital for an investment, expecting the profits made to be greater than the interest payable.

“The company decided to gear its operations to fund the new expansion.”

“Highly geared companies often struggle during periods of rising interest rates due to the increased cost of servicing their debt.”

Technical · British English

adj. very good or wonderful.

adj. an expression of high approval or excellence.

“That new record is absolutely gear.”

“The youth in the club thought the band's performance was gear, echoing the popular slang of the era.”

Archaic · British English · Dialect