Collins English-English Dictionary

gear [gɪə]

1. 1. n 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. 2. n a mechanism for transmitting motion by gears, esp for a specific purpose

   the steering gear of a boat

3. 3. n the engagement or specific ratio of a system of gears

   in gear

   high gear

4. 4. n personal equipment and accoutrements; belongings

5. 5. n equipment and supplies for a particular operation, sport, etc

   fishing gear

6. 6. n [nautical] all equipment or appurtenances belonging to a certain vessel, sailor, etc

7. 7. n short for landing gear

8. 8. n [informal] up-to-date clothes and accessories, esp those bought by young people

9. 9. n [slang] stolen goods

10. 10. n illegal drugs

11. 11. n a less common word for harness

12. 12. vt. [tr] to adjust or adapt (one thing) so as to fit in or work with another

    to gear our output to current demand

13. 13. vt. [tr] to equip with or connect by gears

14. 14. vi. [intr] to be in or come into gear

15. 15. vt. [tr] to equip with harness

16. 16. vt. [Etymology] C13: from Old Norse gervi; related to Old High German garawi equipment, Old English gearwe