gear
n. uncountablen. the equipment or clothes you need for a specific activity. You use this word for things like camping supplies, sports tools, or work clothes.
n. equipment, apparatus, or clothing designed for a specific purpose or activity. Often used collectively to refer to the tools required for a hobby or profession.
We packed all our hiking gear into the car.
The mechanic spent the morning cleaning his gear before starting work on the engine.
Professional photographers often invest thousands of dollars in high-end gear, though the quality of the final image depends more on their technical skill and artistic vision.
From Middle English gere, a borrowing from Old Norse gervi, from Proto-Germanic *garwijaną (“to prepare”). See also adjective yare, yar from the same root via Old English.
Typically uncountable when referring to equipment; it does not take a plural 's' even when referring to many items.
I bought some new gears for my camping trip.I bought some new gear for my camping trip.When meaning equipment, 'gear' is uncountable. The plural 'gears' only refers to the toothed wheels in a machine.
- 01
all the gear and no idea
Having high-quality, expensive equipment for a risky or difficult activity, without any of the requisite knowledge.
- 02
click into gear
To start to perform effectively or to progress
- 03
find another gear
To suddenly achieve an extra burst of athletic performance, especially after a sustained period of competitive exertion.