# gear

/ˈɡɪɹ/ (US) · /ɡˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gear
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. equipment

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. mechanical part

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. clothing

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

clothes, especially a particular type of clothing.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. landing gear

noun · CEFR B2

the wheels of an aircraft that it uses to land.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. illegal drugs

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · British English

a word for illegal drugs.

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to prepare or adapt

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice: 'be geared to/towards'.

### 7. to borrow for investment

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

to borrow money to buy assets or investments.

For teachers: 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.

### 8. excellent

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English · Dialect

very good or wonderful.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: This was very popular in 1960s Liverpool (associated with The Beatles) but is rarely heard today.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.