gear

Clothes and things you need for a particular activity, especially a sport.

• Put your gear in the bag.
• We bought camping gear for our trip.
• Do you have all the protective gear you need?

Similar words: equipment, kit

Common phrases: camping gear, sports gear, protective gear, fishing gear

A setting in a vehicle that changes how engine or pedal movement affects speed and power.

• Put the car in first gear.
• She changed gear before the steep hill.
• My bicycle has seven gears.

Common phrases: first gear, change gear, in gear, low gear

A wheel with teeth that fit into another wheel’s teeth to pass movement between them.

• One gear stopped turning.
• The motor drives a smaller gear.
• Several gears inside the clock need replacing.

Similar words: cogwheel, gearwheel, cog

Common phrases: metal gear, gear wheel, broken gear, gear teeth

A level of speed, effort, or activity.

• The campaign moved into high gear.
• After lunch, the team found another gear.
• Preparations are now in top gear.

Similar words: pace, level

Common phrases: high gear, top gear, another gear

Drugs taken for pleasure or to build muscle.

• He admitted using gear at the gym.
• The dealer offered to sell them gear.
• She stopped taking gear and sought help.

Similar words: drugs

Common phrases: on gear, buy gear, use gear

To make or arrange something so it suits particular people or a particular purpose.

• We gear the course to beginners.
• Their products are geared towards busy parents.
• Can you gear these activities to younger children?

How to use it: gear something to someone/something (We gear our lessons to each student’s needs.); gear something towards someone/something (The company gears its advertising towards young adults.); be geared for something (The training is geared for work in hospitals.)

Similar words: tailor, adapt

Common phrases: gear something to, gear something towards, gear something for