gears

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gear/ɡɪə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 a toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of an engine and the speed of the driven parts (e.g. wheels).

  ■ a particular setting of engaged gears: in fifth gear.

• 2 apparatus or equipment: camping gear.

  ■ informal personal possessions.

  ■ informal clothing: designer gear.

• 3 Brit. informal illegal drugs.

▶verb

• 1 design or adjust gears to give a specified speed or power output.

• 2 (often gear something up) make ready; prepare.

  ■ (often gear something for/to/towards) equip or adapt for a particular purpose.

• 3 (gear down or up) change to a lower (or higher) gear.

– phrases
in (or out of) gear with a gear (or no gear) engaged.

– origin ME: of Scand. origin; cf. ON gervi.