geargear1 /gɪəgɪr/ noun [uncountableU]1special equipment or clothing used for a particular purposeWe manufacture airplane landing gear and other aerospace parts.
Police in riot gear (=special clothing that protects them if they are attacked) stopped demonstrators getting anywhere near the G8 conference.
2in/into high/top gearCOMMERCE if an activity moves into high gear, it becomes much more important, and people put more effort into making it succeedThe alliance with Mattel is part of Disney’s strategy to keep its merchandising efforts in top gear.
3in/into low gearCOMMERCE if a financial or industrial activity is in low gear, it is not growing, or it is not at a high levelThe country’s economy has been stuck in low gear since 1992.
Wall Street shifted into low gear (=started working more slowly than usual) ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.