Library / English Dictionary

GEAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion

Synonyms:

cogwheel; gear; gear wheel; geared wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gear" is a kind of...):

wheel (a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines))

Meronyms (parts of "gear"):

cog; sprocket (tooth on the rim of gear wheel)

tooth (one of a number of uniform projections on a gear)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gear"):

bevel gear; pinion and crown wheel; pinion and ring gear (gears that mesh at an angle)

escape wheel (gear that engages a rocking lever)

pinion (a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack)

epicyclic gear; planet gear; planet wheel; planetary gear (an outer gear that revolves about a central sun gear of an epicyclic train)

rack and pinion (a wheel gear (the pinion) meshes with a toothed rack; converts rotary to reciprocating motion (and vice versa))

spur gear; spur wheel (gear wheels that mesh in the same plane)

sun gear (the central gear in an epicyclic train)

worm gear (gear consisting of a shaft with screw thread (the worm) that meshes with a toothed wheel (the worm wheel); changes the direction of the axis of rotary motion)

worm wheel (gear with the thread of a worm)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.

Synonyms:

appurtenance; gear; paraphernalia

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gear" is a kind of...):

equipment (an instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gear"):

saddlery; stable gear; tack (gear for a horse)

rigging; tackle (gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails)

rig (gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise)

regalia (paraphernalia indicative of royalty (or other high office))

kit; outfit (gear consisting of a set of articles or tools for a specified purpose)

fishing gear; fishing rig; fishing tackle; rig; tackle (gear used in fishing)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle)

Synonyms:

gear; gear mechanism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gear" is a kind of...):

mechanism (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gear"):

first; first gear; low; low gear (the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving)

gearset (a set of gears)

high; high gear (a forward gear with a gear ratio that gives the greatest vehicle velocity for a given engine speed)

park (a gear position that acts as a parking brake)

reverse; reverse gear (the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed)

second; second gear (the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle)

steering gear (a gear that couples the steering wheel to the steering linkage of a motor vehicle)

third; third gear (the third from the lowest forward ratio gear in the gear box of a motor vehicle)

transmission; transmission system (the gears that transmit power from an automobile engine via the driveshaft to the live axle)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed

Example:

the fool got his tie caught in the geartrain

Synonyms:

gear; gearing; geartrain; power train; train

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gear" is a kind of...):

wheelwork (mechanical device including an arrangement of wheel in a machine (especially a train of gears))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gear"):

epicyclic gear train; epicyclic train (a system of epicyclic gears in which at least one wheel axis itself revolves about another fixed axis)

reduction gear (gearing that reduces an input speed to a slower output speed)

Holonyms ("gear" is a part of...):

engine (motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Set the level or character of

Example:

She pitched her speech to the teenagers in the audience

Synonyms:

gear; pitch

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "gear" is one way to...):

accommodate; adapt (make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "gear"):

popularise; popularize (make understandable to the general public)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something to somebody

Credits

 Context examples: 

Wearing protective gear during sports may help prevent dislocations.

(Dislocations, NIH)

The negro had burrowed down into his hiding-place upon the barrow, where he might have lain snug enough, had it not been for the red gear upon his head.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

BioCarta aims to be the leader in the development and commercialization of new technology for functional proteomics by creating an international organization geared towards identifying, acquiring, and commercializing novel products.

(BioCarta, NCI Thesaurus)

Take steps to keep your children safe: • Install the right child safety seat in your car • Teach children how to cross the street safely • Make sure they wear the right gear and equipment for sports • Install and test smoke alarms • Store medicines, cleaners and other dangerous substances in locked cabinets • Babyproof your home • Don't leave small children unattended

(Child Safety, NIH)

To add more to this eclipse, Uranus, which has been retrograde since August 11, will turn direct on January 10, pushing the pacing of your relationship into high gear.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He dried his wet foot-gear by the fire.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

A white surcoat with the lion of St. George in red upon the centre covered his broad breast, while a sprig of new-plucked broom at the side of his head-gear gave a touch of gayety and grace to his grim, war-worn equipment.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Joe was halfway down to the saloon when Martin passed by, bending low over the handle-bars, his legs driving the ninety-six gear with rhythmic strength, his face set for seventy miles of road and grade and dust.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The professional strides you made during the past year will stay with you and grow during the second gestation of Jupiter’s cycle, gearing up now.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Ye may then see to your own gear; for this day you will, I hope, make a very honorable entrance into the field of chivalry, and prove yourselves to be very worthy and valiant squires.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)