gear

Definitions


[ɡɪə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of a driving mechanism (such as the engine of a vehicle) and the speed of the driven parts (the wheels)
(e.g: a racing bike with ten-speed gears)

- equipment or apparatus that is used for a particular purpose
(e.g: camping gear)


Phrases:
- change gear
- in gear
- out of gear

Origin:
Middle English: of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse gervi. Early senses expressed the general meaning ‘equipment or apparatus’, later ‘mechanism’: hence gear (early 19th century)


[ɡɪə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- prepare, adjust, or equip for a particular purpose or need
(e.g: they gear workouts to your specific needs)

- design or adjust the gears in a machine to give a specified speed or power output
(e.g: the vehicle's geared too high for serious off-road use)


Phrases:
- change gear
- in gear
- out of gear

Origin:
Middle English: of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse gervi. Early senses expressed the general meaning ‘equipment or apparatus’, later ‘mechanism’: hence gear (early 19th century)




definition by Oxford Dictionaries