gear
noun /ɡɪə(r)/
/ɡɪr/
Idioms 
enlarge image[countable, usually plural] equipment in a vehicle that changes the relation between engine speed (or pedal speed on a bicycle) and the speed of the wheels moving forwards or backwards- Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears.
- The car pulled up with a screech of brakes and a grinding of gears.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bottom
- top
- high
- …
- engage
- select
- change
- …
- change
- lever
- shift
- …
- in (a/the) gear
- out of gear
- [uncountable, countable] a particular position of the gears in a vehicle that gives a particular range of speed and power
- first/second, etc. gear
- reverse gear
- low/high gear
- (British English) bottom/top gear
- (British English) to change gear
- (North American English) to shift gear
- in gear When parking on a hill, leave the car in gear.
- What gear are you in?
- He drove wildly, crashing through the gears like a maniac.
Collocations DrivingDrivingHaving a carsee also high gear, top gear- have/own/(British English) run a car
- ride a motorcycle/motorbike
- drive/prefer/use an automatic/a manual/(North American English, informal) a stick shift
- have/get your car serviced/fixed/repaired
- buy/sell a used car/(especially British English) a second-hand car
- take/pass/fail a (British English) driving test/(both North American English) driver’s test/road test
- get/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your (British English) driving licence/(North American English) driver’s license
- put on/fasten/(North American English) buckle/wear/undo your seat belt/safety belt
- put/turn/leave the key in the ignition
- start the car/engine
- (British English) change/(North American English) shift/put something into gear
- press/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/accelerator
- release the clutch/(especially British English) the handbrake/(both North American English) the emergency brake/the parking brake
- drive/park/reverse the car
- (British English) indicate left/right
- (especially North American English) signal that you are turning left/right
- take/miss (British English) the turning/(especially North American English) the turn
- apply/hit/slam on the brake(s)
- beep/honk/(especially British English) toot/(British English) sound your horn
- a car skids/crashes (into something)/collides (with something)
- swerve to avoid an oncoming car/a pedestrian
- crash/lose control of the car
- have/be in/be killed in/survive a car crash/a car accident/(North American English) a car wreck/a hit-and-run
- be run over/knocked down by a car/bus/truck
- dent/hit (British English) the bonnet/(North American English) the hood
- break/crack/shatter (British English) the windscreen/(North American English) the windshield
- blow/(especially British English) burst/puncture (British English) a tyre/(North American English) a tire
- get/have (British English) a flat tyre/a flat tire/a puncture
- inflate/change/fit/replace/check a tyre/tire
- be caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jam
- cause congestion/tailbacks/traffic jams/gridlock
- experience/face lengthy delays
- beat/avoid the traffic/the rush hour
- break/observe/(North American English) drive the speed limit
- be caught on (British English) a speed camera
- stop somebody for/pull somebody over for/(British English, informal) be done for speeding
- (both informal) run/(British English) jump a red light/the lights
- be arrested for/charged with (British English) drink-driving/(both US English) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)
- be banned/(British English) disqualified from driving
Extra Examples- She put the car into first gear and drove off.
- I was driving along in third gear.
- It's difficult to steer and change gear at the same time.
- She made a smooth gear change.
- Leave the car out of gear.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bottom
- top
- high
- …
- engage
- select
- change
- …
- change
- lever
- shift
- …
- in (a/the) gear
- out of gear
- [uncountable] the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity
- climbing/fishing/sports gear
Synonyms equipmentequipment- material
- gear
- kit
- apparatus
- equipment the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity:
- camping equipment
- a piece of equipment
- material things that are needed for a particular activity:
- household cleaning materials
- teaching material
- gear the equipment or clothes needed for a particular activity:
- Skiing gear can be expensive.
- kit a set of tools or equipment that you use for a particular purpose:
- a first-aid kit
- a tool kit
- apparatus the tools or other pieces of equipment that are needed for a particular activity or task:
- breathing apparatus for firefighters
- laboratory apparatus
- electrical/electronic equipment/gear/apparatus
- sports equipment/gear/kit
- camping equipment/gear
- a piece of equipment/apparatus
Extra Examples- She had her running gear on.
- The shop sells various types of outdoor gear.
- The hot weather makes it hard for soldiers in protective gear.
- a group of men in combat gear
- firemen in breathing gear
- Don't forget to bring your walking gear.
- Skiing gear can be expensive.
- The cooking gear is still in the back of the car.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- camping
- climbing
- fishing
- …
- be dressed in
- have on
- wear
- …
- in … gear
- [uncountable] (informal) clothes
- Her friends were all wearing the latest gear.
- She was the only one wearing expensive designer gear.
Synonyms clothesclothes- clothing
- garment
- dress
- wear
- gear
- clothes [pl.] the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.
- clothing [U] (rather formal) clothes, especially a particular type of clothes:
- warm clothing
- garment (formal) a piece of clothing:
- He was wearing a strange shapeless garment.
- dress [U] clothes, especially when worn in a particular style or for a particular occasion:
- We were allowed to wear casual dress on Fridays.
- wear [U] (usually in compounds) clothes for a particular purpose or occasion, especially when they are being sold in shops:
- the children’s wear department
- gear [U] (informal) clothes:
- Her friends were all wearing the latest designer gear.
- casual clothes/clothing/dress/wear/gear
- evening/formal clothes/dress/wear
- designer/sports clothes/clothing/garments/wear/gear
- children’s/men’s/women’s clothes/clothing/garments/wear
- to have on/be in/wear …clothes/garments/dress/gear
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- camping
- climbing
- fishing
- …
- be dressed in
- have on
- wear
- …
- in … gear
- [uncountable] (informal) the things that a person owns
- I've left all my gear at Dave's house.
- [uncountable] (often in compounds) a machine used for a particular purpose
- lifting/towing/winding gear
- [uncountable, countable] used to talk about the speed or effort involved in doing something
- (British English) The party organization is moving into top gear as the election approaches.
- (North American English) to move into high gear
- Coming out of the final bend, the runner stepped up a gear to overtake the rest of the pack.
- He found it hard to switch gears when he retired.
- [uncountable] (slang) illegal drugs
in vehicle
equipment/clothes
possessions
machinery
speed/effort
drugs
Word OriginMiddle English: of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse gervi. Early senses expressed the general meaning ‘equipment or apparatus’, later ‘mechanism’: hence sense (1) (early 19th cent.).
Idioms
get your ass in gear | move your ass (North American English)
(British English get your arse in gear, move your arse )
- (taboo, slang) a rude way of telling somebody to hurry
- If you get your ass in gear, we can make it out of here tonight.
get into gear | get something into gear
- to start working, or to start something working, in an efficient way
(slip/be thrown) out of gear
- (of emotions or situations) (to become) out of control
- She said nothing in case her temper slipped out of gear.