1. U 用具，设备；衣服　equipment, clothing, etc. needed for an expedition, a sport, etc.
2. P 齿轮；传动装置；（排）挡　set of toothed wheels which fit into another set to transmit power from a vehicle's engine to its road wheels

　change〔shift〕 ～(s)　换挡
　keep all the ～ in　把所有衣物放在…
　load the ～ into　把工具装上…
　strip ～s　折断齿轮的齿
　fishing〔hunting〕 ～　渔〔猎〕具
　homely ～　朴素的衣服
　low〔high, top〕 ～　低〔高〕速挡
　bottom ～　头挡
　drive ～　传动齿轮
　horse ～　马具
　in ～　搭上齿轮，在正常运转中，处于正常状态，健全的
　into ～　搭上齿轮，进入正常运转，进入工作状态
　out of ～　齿轮脱开，运转不正常，脱节

　They put the hunting gear into the boat.　他们把打猎工具放在小船上。
　This large gear turns the small one.　这个大齿轮带动那个小齿轮。
　A car can't go unless it is in gear.　汽车若不把传动机构联系好就不能开动。
　Tom changed gear and he won the game at last.　汤姆突然加速最后赢得了比赛。

 ♣ out of gear
　没上排挡；运转不灵活，出了毛病　not connected to the gear; not working well
　The car is out of gear.　这汽车出了毛病。
　It's really one of those days, everything seems out of gear today.　今天真是倒霉的日子，所有的事情似乎都出了问题。

1. vt.换挡　 change a part of a machine which has a special use in controlling a vehicle
2. vt. & vi.（使）搭配；（使）适合　 adjust one thing to the working of another; make dependence on
3. vt.使兴奋起来；使准备好　 put especially oneself into a state of excited or anxious expectation about an activity

　～ highly　高度兴奋
　～ mechanically　机械地搭配
　～ scientifically　科学地搭配
　～ down　换慢挡，减少
　～ up　换快挡，促进，提高，使准备好
　～ into each other　相互啮合
　～ to　加以调解使适合

　The cogs gear smoothly.　齿轮啮合得很好。
　The teeth of the wheels gear into each other.　轮齿相互啮合。
　His political opponents are gearing themselves for national elections in October.　他的政敌们正在为10月份大选做准备。

 ♣ gear down　(v.+adv.)
1. 换低速挡 (in a car or other vehicle) to change to a lower gear
　He geared down as he came into the corner.　他到拐角处放慢了速度。
　You have to gear down when you drive uphill.　上坡行驶时必须换慢挡。
2. 减弱…的压力〔难度〕；降低…的水平 reduce the force or level of (sth)
　〔说明〕 gear down作此解时常用于被动结构。
　The courses have been geared down to lower ability of students in these special classes.　在这些特殊班里，由于学生能力低，课程的难度已降低了。
 ♣ gear to　(v.+prep.)
　调整（某物）使其适合…　arrange (sth) so as to make it suitable for (sth or sb)
　We must gear the amount of products to the level of public demand.　我们必须使产品数量适合公众要求的水平。
　We have to gear our lives to the new changes.　我们必须使自己的生活适应新的变化。
　Education should be geared to the children's needs and abilities.　教育应适应儿童的需要和能力。
 ♣ gear up　(v.+adv.)
1. （汽车等）换高速挡 (in a car or other vehicle) to change a high gear
　When you are going fast enough, you'll be able to gear up.　车开得足够快时，你就能换挡加速。
2. 改进…以适应提高生产的需要 prepare (sth such as machinery) for increased or improved performance
　The directors decided to gear the factory up for increased production, by bringing in new machine.　为了适应增产的需要，董事们决定引进新机器。
3. 使做好行动准备 prepare (sth or sb) for action
　The Department is gearing up for increased intake of students.　这个系正在为扩大招生做好准备。
　The party is all geared up for the forthcoming election campaign.　该党为即将来临的竞选活动已完全做好了准备。
　I was geared up to have an argument about it and then she said it didn't matter anyhow.　我已准备好跟她辩论那事，可是她却说不管怎样都没什么关系了。

 ♣ gear up for, gear up to
　这组短语都可指“准备”，只是前者比后者更常用。

　［同义词］ n. clothes, flywheel, tools, toothed wheel
　［词源］古挪威语gervi（准备，装饰）