gear

[geer] /gɪər/
noun
1.
Machinery.
  1. a part, as a disk, wheel, or section of a shaft, having cut teeth of such form, size, and spacing that they mesh with teeth in another part to transmit or receive force and motion.
  2. an assembly of such parts.
  3. one of several possible arrangements of such parts in a mechanism, as an automobile transmission, for affording different relations of torque and speed between the driving and the driven machinery, or for permitting the driven machinery to run in either direction:
    first gear; reverse gear.
  4. a mechanism or group of parts performing one function or serving one purpose in a complex machine:
    steering gear.
2.
implements, tools, or apparatus, especially as used for a particular occupation or activity; paraphernalia:
fishing gear.
3.
a harness, especially of horses.
4.
Nautical.
  1. the lines, tackles, etc., of a particular sail or spar.
  2. the personal tools, clothing, and other possessions of a sailor.
5.
portable items of personal property, including clothing; possessions:
The campers keep all their gear in footlockers.
6.
wearing apparel; clothing:
The fashion pages of the Sunday paper are featuring the latest fall gear.
7.
armor or arms.
verb (used with object)
8.
to provide with or connect by gearing.
9.
to put in or into gear.
10.
to provide with gear; supply; equip.
11.
to prepare, adjust, or adapt to a particular situation, person, etc., in order to bring about satisfactory results:
The producers geared their output to seasonal demands.
verb (used without object)
12.
to fit exactly, as one part of gearing into another; come into or be in gear.
adjective
13.
Slang. great; wonderful.
Verb phrases
14.
gear down,
  1. Automotive. to shift the transmission of a vehicle to a lower gear:
    The truck driver geared down at the top of the hill.
  2. to reduce in scope or intensity:
    With less income you'll have to gear down your spending habits.
15.
gear up,
  1. to make or get ready for a future event or situation:
    Insiders say the senator is gearing up to run for governor.
  2. to get or put on equipment or clothing for a particular purpose:
    The hikers geared up for the long trek down the mountain.
  3. to arouse or excite, as with enthusiasm or expectation:
    The employees were geared up for a hard battle with management over working hours.
Idioms
16.
in gear,
  1. Machinery. in the state in which gears are connected or meshed:
    The car is in gear.
  2. in proper or active working order; functioning continuously without trouble:
    Every department in this company must be in gear at all times.
17.
in / into high gear, in or into a state of utmost speed, activity, or efficiency:
Military rearmament moved into high gear.
18.
out of gear, Machinery. in the state in which gears are not connected or meshed:
The engine is out of gear.
19.
shift / switch gears, to change one's attitude, course of action, methods, etc., in an abrupt, dramatic, or unexpected manner:
In the middle of the second act the play shifts gears from comedy to tragedy.
Origin of gear
1150-1200; Middle English gere < Old Norse gervi, gørvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment
Related forms
gearless, adjective
regear, verb
ungeared, adjective
well-geared, adjective
Synonyms
2. equipment, outfit, tackle, rig.
British Dictionary definitions for in high gear

gear

/ɡɪə/
noun
1.
a toothed wheel that engages with another toothed wheel or with a rack in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
2.
a mechanism for transmitting motion by gears, esp for a specific purpose: the steering gear of a boat
3.
the engagement or specific ratio of a system of gears: in gear, high gear
4.
personal equipment and accoutrements; belongings
5.
equipment and supplies for a particular operation, sport, etc: fishing gear
6.
(nautical) all equipment or appurtenances belonging to a certain vessel, sailor, etc
7.
short for landing gear
8.
(informal) up-to-date clothes and accessories, esp those bought by young people
9.
(slang)
  1. stolen goods
  2. illegal drugs
10.
a less common word for harness (sense 1)
11.
in gear, working or performing effectively or properly
12.
out of gear, out of order; not functioning properly
verb
13.
(transitive) to adjust or adapt (one thing) so as to fit in or work with another: to gear our output to current demand
14.
(transitive) to equip with or connect by gears
15.
(intransitive) to be in or come into gear
16.
(transitive) to equip with harness
Derived Forms
gearless, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old Norse gervi; related to Old High German garawī equipment, Old English gearwe
Word Origin and History for in high gear

gear

n.

c.1200, "fighting equipment," probably from Old Norse gervi "apparel," related to gerr "ready," and gerva "make ready," from Proto-Germanic *garwin- (cf. Old English gearwe "clothing, equipment, ornament;" Old High German garawi "clothing, dress," garawen "to make ready;" German gerben "to tan"). Meaning "toothed wheel in machinery" first attested 1520s. Slang for "male sex organs" from 1670s. British adjective slang sense of "stylish, excellent" first recorded 1951, from earlier that's the gear, expression of approval, 1925.

v.

c.1200, "to equip oneself for fighting; dress," probably from gear (n.). Related: Geared; gearing.

in high gear in Science
gear
  (gîr)   

A wheel with teeth around its rim that mesh with the teeth of another wheel to transmit motion. Gears are used to transmit power (as in a car transmission) or change the direction of motion in a mechanism (as in a differential axle). Fixed ratios of speed in various parts of a machine is often established by the arrangement of gears.
Slang definitions & phrases for in high gear

in high gear

adjective phrase

In the most active, rapid, impressive phase; at full tempo: The advertising campaign is in high gear (1940s+)

Related Terms

shift into high gear


gear

adjective

Excellent; wonderful; superb: The opposite of ''gear'' is ''grotty''

Related Terms

in high gear, shift into high gear

[1950s+ British; fr the WWI British Army phrase that's the gear, ''that's right'']


Idioms and Phrases with in high gear

gear

see: