gear

/gɪər/ noun [U]

Definition

› a system or piece of equipment: A good place to connect with other consumers is Epinions.com, which posts reviews on all sorts of gadgets and gear. computer/electronic/networking gear

› equipment or clothes that are used for a particular activity: The workers said they received no protective gear or warnings about the dangers of asbestos.

› informal the speed at which something happens or is done: After a slow start, the leadership campaign suddenly shifted into gear. high/low/top gear

move/step up a gear UK informal › to start to do something better or faster: The price war stepped up a gear yesterday when two major chains announced they were cutting the cost of petrol.

(Definition of gear noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)