gears

gears · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of gear; multiple toothed wheels or equipment items.

  2. 2.

    The mechanism of interlocking gears in a machine or vehicle.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    shift gears — to change the gear in a vehicle; to change one's approach
  • •
    grind someone's gears — to annoy or irritate someone

Related words

See also: cog, gear, mechanism
Synonyms: cogs, mechanisms, wheels

Etymology

From Old Norse gervi ("apparel, gear"), with regular English plural suffix -s.