gearing

Pluralgearings (some meanings)

1. 1
   noununcountable

   A connected set of toothed wheels and pinions that transmits motion within a machine.

   Like the linked cogs of a bicycle's chainrings and rear sprockets, each passing motion to the next.

   The mechanic inspected the gearing inside the gearbox for worn teeth.

   A windmill's gearing carries the slow turn of the sails to the fast-spinning millstone.

   Similarmechanism, transmission

   Note

   Here the word names the hardware itself rather than the ratio it produces. It often takes a modifier that names its job. A 1956 Railway Magazine article, "London Transport Diesel-Electric Cranes," describes cranes worked by motors through reduction gearing, which turns a fast motor's spin into a slower, stronger turn.

2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The ratio between the input and output of a connected system of gears.

   Cyclists choose their gearing to match the steepness of the climb.

   The transmission's gearing determines how engine speed translates into wheel speed.

   Similarratio

   Note

   An engineer's word usually described as high or low. Low gearing trades speed for pulling power, which is why a 4×4 with relatively low gearing climbs well. High gearing lets the output turn faster at the cost of torque. Cyclists use the same terms when they choose their gears for a hill.

3. 3
   verb

   Present participle of gear.

   The factory is gearing its production lines to meet the new demand.

   They are gearing the curriculum toward younger students this year.

   Note

   The verb form usually takes an object and a preposition, as in gearing production to demand or gearing a curriculum toward younger students. That is the quickest way to tell it from the noun. The verb adapts something for a purpose, while the noun names the gears or their ratio. The verb also has a finance sense, borrowing money to invest, which matches the debt-ratio meaning.

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The ratio of a company's debt to the money invested by its shareholders.

   Like a homebuyer using a large mortgage against a small deposit: the borrowed share magnifies both profit and loss.

   Analysts flagged the company's gearing as dangerously high after the acquisition.

   Low gearing gave the business room to borrow during the downturn.

   Similarleverage

   Note

   Finance borrowed the word to describe how a company balances borrowed money against shareholders' money. Leverage names the same thing. High gearing magnifies shareholders' returns when earnings rise and deepens their losses when earnings fall, so analysts read it as a measure of risk. Like the mechanical ratio, it is commonly called high or low.

5. 5
   noununcountable

   The harness, tackle, and working implements used for a particular task.

   Before dawn she fetched the team's gearing from the shed and began to hitch up.

   The old fisherman kept his gearing in fine repair, every rope and hook in its place.

   Similarharness, tackle, equipment

Showing meanings only. Show all 5