gear synonyms

gear

n.

  1. Equipment

    material, tackle, apparatus, paraphernalia; see equipment.

  2. A geared wheel

    cog, cogwheel, pinion, toothed wheel, spurwheel, sprocket, ragwheel, lanternwheel.

    Types of gears include: spur, bevel, crown, worm, internal, inside, drive, driving, transmission, differential, timing, conical, Hooke's, spiral, stepped, angular, beveled, elliptical, hooked, idling, overhead, hypoid, nylon, plastic, first, low, second, intermediate, third, high, fourth, reverse, overdrive, multiplying, quick-return.

  3. Clothes or other personal belongings

    clothing, apparel, effects, things; see baggage, clothes, property 1.

high gear*

high speed, productivity, efficiency, activity; see action 1, speed.

in gear*

usable, efficient, productive, in working order; see working.

low gear*

low speed, slowness, inactivity, inefficiency; see idleness 1.

out of gear*

inefficient, not working, inoperative; see broken 2, useless 1.

shift gears*

alter one's approach, proceed along a different course, readjust; see change 1.

gear

v.

  1. To prepare

    organize, harness, ready, equip; see prepare 1, provide 1.

  2. To regulate

    adjust, match, blend; see adjust 1, regulate 2.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.