- 1[countable, usually plural] machinery in a vehicle that turns engine power (or power on a bicycle) into movement forward or backward Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears. The car pulled up with a screech of brakes and a grinding of gears.
- 2[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 to shift 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. see also high gear, top gear Topic CollocationsDrivinghaving a car
- have/own a car
- ride a motorcycle/moped/scooter
- drive/use/prefer an automatic/a manual/a stick shift
- have/get your car fixed/repaired/looked at
- buy/sell a used car
- take/pass/fail a driver's test/road test/knowledge test
- get/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your driver's license/learner's permit
- put on/fasten/buckle/wear/undo your seat belt
- put/turn/leave the key in the ignition
- start the car/engine
- change/shift gears
- shift/put the car into gear/neutral/drive/park
- press/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/accelerator
- release the clutch/the emergency brake/the parking brake
- drive/park/reverse the car
- signal that you are turning left/right
- take/miss the turn
- apply/hit/slam on the brake(s)
- beep/honk 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) wreck/an accident/a hit-and-run
- be run over/hit by a car/bus/truck
- dent/hit the hood/trunk/door/side panel/bumper/fender
- break/crack/shatter the windshield
- blow/puncture a tire
- get/have a flat tire
- inflate/change/replace/check a tire
- be caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jam
- cause congestion/traffic jams/gridlock/backups
- experience/face lengthy delays
- beat/avoid the traffic/the rush hour
- exceed/observe/drive the speed limit
- be caught by a speed camera
- stop somebody for/pull somebody over for speeding
- (informal) run a red light/the lights
- be arrested for/charged with drunk driving/driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)
- be banned from driving
- have your license suspended/taken away/ (informal) pulled
equipment/clothes - 3[uncountable] the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity climbing/fishing/sports, etc. gear see headgear, riot gear Thesaurusequipment
- material
- gear
- kit
- apparatus
- equipment the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity:camping equipment a piece of laboratory/medical equipment
- material things that are needed for a particular activity:household cleaning materials teaching material
- Equipment is usually solid things, especially large ones. Materials may be liquids, powders, or books, CDs, etc. containing information, as well as small solid items.
- gear the equipment or clothes needed for a particular activity:Camping gear can be expensive.
- kit a set of tools or equipment that you use for a particular purpose:a first-aid kit a sewing kit
- apparatus (formal) the tools or other pieces of equipment that are needed for a particular activity or task:breathing apparatus for firefighters laboratory apparatus Apparatus is used especially for scientific, medical, or technical purposes.
- electrical/electronic equipment/gear/apparatus
- sports equipment/gear
- camping equipment/gear
- a piece of equipment/apparatus
- 4[uncountable] (informal) clothes wearing the latest gear Thesaurusclothes
- clothing
- garment
- dress
- wear
- gear
- clothes [pl.] the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses, and pants:Please pick your clothes up off the floor.
- clothing [U] (somewhat formal) clothes, especially a particular type of clothes:warm clothing
- Clothing is more formal than clothes and is used especially to mean “a particular type of clothes.” There is no singular form of clothes or clothing:a piece/an item/an article of clothing is used to talk about one thing that you wear, such as a dress or shirt.
- garment (formal) a piece of clothing:He was wearing a strange shapeless garment. Garment should only be used in formal or literary contexts; in everyday contexts use a piece of clothing.
- dress [U] clothes, especially when worn in a particular style or for a particular occasion:Casual dress is allowed on Fridays.
- wear [U] (usually in compounds) clothes for a particular purpose or occasion, especially when it is being sold in stores:the children's wear department
- gear [U] clothes for a particular purpose:the most advanced cold-weather gear (= warm boots, coats, gloves, etc.)
- casual clothes/clothing/dress/wear
- evening/formal clothes/dress/wear
- designer/sports clothes/clothing/garments/wear/gear
- children's/men's/ladies' clothes/clothing/garments/wear
- to have on/be in/wear …clothes/garments/gear
possessions - 5[uncountable] (informal) the things that a person owns I left all my gear at Dave's house. machinery
- 6[uncountable] (often in compounds) a piece of machinery used for a particular purpose lifting/towing/winding, etc. gear see landing gear speed/effort
- 7[uncountable, countable] used to talk about the speed or effort involved in doing something The wedding preparations moved into high gear as the day approached. Coming out of the final turn, the runner stepped up a gear to overtake the rest of the pack.
- 1to put a motor vehicle or a bicycle into a different gear
- 2to move from one activity or interest to another After giving an intense performance it was difficult for the actress to change gears and become herself again.
in vehicle
to start working, or to start something working, in an efficient way
in a state of intense activity Her career is back in high gear.
Check pronunciation: gear