/gɪə(r); ˇɪr/
n
1 [U] equipment, clothing, etc needed for an expedition, a sport, etc （远征、运动等需用的）设备、装备、衣物等
*All his camping gear was packed in the rucksack. 他的野营物品全都放在背囊里了.
* We're only going for two days; you don't need to bring so much gear! 我们只去两天, 你不用带那么多东西!
* wearing her party gear 穿着她赴宴的衣服.
2 [sing] (esp in compounds 尤用以构成复合词) piece or set of apparatus or machinery for a particular purpose 仪器; 器械; 装置
*The landing-gear has jammed. 着陆装置发生故障.
* winding gear for lifting heavy loads 起重绞盘装置.
3 (a) [C often pl 常作复数] set of toothed wheels which fit into another set to transmit power from a vehicle's engine to its road wheels （机动车辆的）传动装置, 排挡
*Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears. 离合器使用不慎可能损坏传动装置.
* The car has four forward gears and one reverse gear. 那汽车有四个前进挡和一个倒挡.
* The car started with a crashing of gears, ie noise made by operating them badly. 那汽车开动时发出挂挡的　光当声（因操纵技术不佳所致）. =>illus at App
1 见附录1插图, page xiii. =>illus 见插图.
(b) [U] particular position or setting of the gear mechanism 传动装置的某位置或组合状态; 排挡
*The car is in/out of gear, ie has the gears engaged/disengaged. 汽车挂上挡[未挂挡].
* low/bottom/first gear, ie used for starting a vehicle or climbing a slope 低速挡[头挡/第一挡]（用于车辆起动或爬坡）
* high/top gear, ie used for high speeds 高速挡
* change gear 换排挡.
4 [U] (fig 比喻) degree of speed or efficiency 速度或效率的程度
*The party organization is moving into top gear as the election approaches. 随着选举临近, 党组织的活动也如火如荼.
* The athlete changed gear (ie suddenly accelerated) and shot ahead of the others. 该运动员突然加速, 冲到别人前面去了.

v (phr v) gear sth to/towards sth adapt sth to a particular need or to an appropriate level or standard 对某事物加以调节以适合某种需要或达到某种水平或标准
*Industry must be geared to wartime needs. 工业必须调整以适应战时需要.
* Our effort is geared to a higher level of production. 我们调整力量将生产推向更高的水平. gear down (of a driver) change to a lower gear so as to have better control （指驾驶员）换至较低一挡以便操纵. gear sth down (to sth) reduce sth in force or intensity （在力量或强度上）减低某事物
*The period of exercise was geared down to ten minutes a day for men over 60. 60岁以上的人的锻炼时间减低到每日十分钟. gear up (for/to sth); gear sb/sth up (for/to sth) become or make sb/sth ready (for sth) （为某事物）（使）某人[某事物]准备好
*The company's gearing up for the big export drive. 公司正为大规模出口作好准备.
* I was all geared up (ie excitedly ready) to go on holiday, and now it's been cancelled. 我兴致勃勃地做好去度假的准备, 可是现在吹了. gearing/ 5gIErIN; `^IrIN/ n [U] set or arrangement of gears 齿轮装置; 传动装置
*The gearing of this machine is unusual. 这机器的齿轮装置很特别.