Gear vs. Wear — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Gear and Wear
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Definitions
Gear➦
A gear is a rotating circular machine part having cut teeth or, in the case of a cogwheel or gearwheel, inserted teeth (called cogs), which mesh with another toothed part to transmit torque. A gear may also be known informally as a cog.
Wear➦
Wear is the damaging, gradual removal or deformation of material at solid surfaces. Causes of wear can be mechanical (e.g., erosion) or chemical (e.g., corrosion).
Gear➦
A toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of a driving mechanism (such as the engine of a vehicle) and the speed of the driven parts (the wheels)
A racing bike with ten-speed gears
Wear➦
To carry or have on one's person as covering, adornment, or protection
Wearing a jacket.
Must wear a seat belt.
Gear➦
Equipment or apparatus that is used for a particular purpose
Camping gear
Wear➦
To carry or have habitually on one's person, especially as an aid
Wears glasses.
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Gear➦
Design or adjust the gears in a machine to give a specified speed or power output
The vehicle's geared too high for serious off-road use
Wear➦
To display in one's appearance
Always wears a smile.
Gear➦
A toothed machine part, such as a wheel or cylinder, that meshes with another toothed part to transmit motion or to change speed or direction.
Wear➦
To bear, carry, or maintain in a particular manner
Wears her hair long.
Gear➦
A complete assembly that performs a specific function in a larger machine.
Wear➦
To fly or display (colors). Used of a ship, jockey, or knight.
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Gear➦
A transmission configuration for a specific ratio of engine to axle torque in a motor vehicle.
Wear➦
To damage, diminish, erode, or consume by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure. Often used with away, down, or off
Rocks worn away by the sea.
Shoes worn down at the heels.
Gear➦
Equipment, such as tools or clothing, used for a particular activity
Fishing gear.
Wear➦
To produce by constant use, attrition, or exposure
Eventually wore hollows in the stone steps.
Gear➦
Clothing and accessories
The latest gear for teenagers.
Wear➦
To bring to a specified condition by long use or attrition
Wore the clothes to rags.
Pebbles worn smooth.
Gear➦
Personal belongings, including clothing
Keeps her gear in a trunk.
Wear➦
To fatigue, weary, or exhaust
Your incessant criticism has worn my patience.
Gear➦
The harness for a horse.
Wear➦
(Nautical) To make (a sailing ship) come about with the wind aft.
Gear➦
A ship's rigging.
Wear➦
To last under continual or hard use
A fabric that will wear.
Gear➦
A sailor's personal effects.
Wear➦
To last through the passage of time
A friendship that wears well.
Gear➦
To equip with gears.
Wear➦
To break down or diminish through use or attrition
The rear tires began to wear.
Gear➦
To connect by gears.
Wear➦
To pass gradually or tediously
The hours wore on.
Gear➦
To put into gear.
Wear➦
(Nautical) To come about with stern to windward.
Gear➦
To adjust or adapt so as to make suitable
Geared the speech to a conservative audience.
Wear➦
The act of wearing or the state of being worn; use
This shirt is ideal for wear in sultry climates.
Gear➦
To provide with gear; equip.
Wear➦
Clothing, especially of a particular kind or for a particular use. Often used in combination
Rainwear.
Footwear.
Gear➦
To come into or be in gear.
Wear➦
Damage resulting from use or age
The rug shows plenty of wear.
Gear➦
To shift a transmission
Geared down to take the curve.
Wear➦
The ability to withstand impairment from use or attrition
The engine has plenty of wear left.
Gear➦
To become adjusted so as to fit or blend.
Wear➦
To carry or have equipped on or about one's body, as an item of clothing, equipment, decoration, etc.
He's wearing some nice pants today.
She wore her medals with pride.
Please wear your seatbelt.
Can you wear makeup and sunscreen at {{the same time?
}} He was wearing his lunch after tripping and falling into the buffet.
Gear➦
(uncountable) Equipment or paraphernalia, especially that used for an athletic endeavor.
Wear➦
To have or carry on one's person habitually, consistently; or, to maintain in a particular fashion or manner.
He wears eyeglasses.
She wears her hair in braids.
Gear➦
Clothing; garments.
Wear➦
To bear or display in one's aspect or appearance.
She wore a smile all day.
He walked out of the courtroom wearing an air of satisfaction.
Gear➦
(obsolete) Goods; property; household items.
Wear➦
To overcome one's reluctance and endure a (previously specified) situation.
I know you don't like working with him, but you'll just have to wear it.
Gear➦
(countable) A wheel with grooves (teeth) engraved on the outer circumference, such that two such devices can interlock and convey motion from one to the other; a gear wheel.
Wear➦
To eat away at, erode, diminish, or consume gradually; to cause a gradual deterioration in; to produce (some change) through attrition, exposure, or constant use.
You're going to wear a hole in the bottom of those shoes.
The water has slowly worn a channel into these rocks.
Long illness had worn the bloom from her cheeks.
Exile had worn the man to a shadow.
Gear➦
A particular combination or choice of interlocking gears, such that a particular gear ratio is achieved.
Wear➦
To undergo gradual deterioration; become impaired; be reduced or consumed gradually due to any continued process, activity, or use.
The tiles were wearing thin due to years of children's feet.
Gear➦
A configuration of the transmission of a motor car so as to achieve a particular ratio of engine to axle torque.
Wear➦
To exhaust, fatigue, expend, or weary.
His neverending criticism has finally worn my patience.
Toil and care soon wear the spirit.
Our physical advantage allowed us to wear the other team out and win.
Gear➦
(aviation) landing gear
Gear-up landing
Get the gear down quick!
Wear➦
(intransitive) To last or remain durable under hard use or over time; to retain usefulness, value, or desirable qualities under any continued strain or long period of time; sometimes said of a person, regarding the quality of being easy or difficult to tolerate.
Don't worry, this fabric will wear. These pants will last you for years.
This color wears so well. I must have washed this sweater a thousand times.
I have to say, our friendship has worn pretty well.
It's hard to get to know him, but he wears well.
Gear➦
Recreational drugs, including steroids.
Wear➦
(in the phrase "wearing on (someone)") To cause annoyance, irritation, fatigue, or weariness near the point of an exhaustion of patience.
Her high pitched voice is really wearing on me lately.
Gear➦
Stuff.
Wear➦
To pass slowly, gradually or tediously.
Wear on, wear away.
As the years wore on, we seemed to have less and less in common.
Gear➦
(obsolete) Business matters; affairs; concern.
Wear➦
(nautical) To bring (a sailing vessel) onto the other tack by bringing the wind around the stern (as opposed to tacking when the wind is brought around the bow); to come round on another tack by turning away from the wind. Also written "ware". Past: weared, or wore/worn.
Gear➦
Anything worthless; nonsense; rubbish.
Wear➦
To guard; watch; keep watch, especially from entry or invasion.
Gear➦
To provide with gearing; to fit with gears in order to achieve a desired gear ratio.
Wear➦
To defend; protect.
Gear➦
To be in, or come into, gear.
Wear➦
To ward off; prevent from approaching or entering; drive off; repel.
To wear the wolf from the sheep
Gear➦
To dress; to put gear on; to harness.
Wear➦
To conduct or guide with care or caution, as into a fold or place of safety.
Gear➦
(usually with to or toward(s)) To design or devise (something) so as to be suitable (for a particular type of person or a particular purpose).
This shop is not really geared towards people of our age.
They have geared the hotel mainly at tourists.
Wear➦
(uncountable) (in combination) clothing
Footwear; outdoor wear; maternity wear
Gear➦
(finance) To borrow money in order to invest it in assets.
Wear➦
(uncountable) damage to the appearance and/or strength of an item caused by use over time
Gear➦
Great or fantastic
Wear➦
(uncountable) fashion
Gear➦
Clothing; garments; ornaments.
Array thyself in thy most gorgeous gear.
Wear➦
Same as Weir.
Gear➦
Goods; property; household stuff.
Homely gear and common ware.
Wear➦
The act of wearing, or the state of being worn; consumption by use; diminution by friction; as, the wear of a garment.
Gear➦
Whatever is prepared for use or wear; manufactured stuff or material.
Clad in a vesture of unknown gear.
Wear➦
The thing worn; style of dress; the fashion.
Motley 's the only wear.
Gear➦
The harness of horses or cattle; trapping.
Wear➦
The result of wearing or use; consumption, diminution, or impairment due to use, friction, or the like; as, the wear of this coat has been good.
Gear➦
Warlike accouterments.
Wear➦
To cause to go about, as a vessel, by putting the helm up, instead of alee as in tacking, so that the vessel's bow is turned away from, and her stern is presented to, the wind, and, as she turns still farther, her sails fill on the other side; to veer.
Gear➦
Manner; custom; behavior.
Wear➦
To carry or bear upon the person; to bear upon one's self, as an article of clothing, decoration, warfare, bondage, etc.; to have appendant to one's body; to have on; as, to wear a coat; to wear a shackle.
What compass will you wear your farthingale?
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.
Gear➦
Business matters; affairs; concern.
Thus go they both together to their gear.
Wear➦
To have or exhibit an appearance of, as an aspect or manner; to bear; as, she wears a smile on her countenance.
His innocent gestures wearA meaning half divine.
Gear➦
A toothed wheel, or cogwheel; as, a spur gear, or a bevel gear; also, toothed wheels, collectively.
Wear➦
To use up by carrying or having upon one's self; hence, to consume by use; to waste; to use up; as, to wear clothes rapidly.
Gear➦
See 1st Jeer (b).
Wear➦
To impair, waste, or diminish, by continual attrition, scraping, percussion, on the like; to consume gradually; to cause to lower or disappear; to spend.
That wicked wight his days doth wear.
The waters wear the stones.
Gear➦
Anything worthless; stuff; nonsense; rubbish.
That servant of his that confessed and uttered this gear was an honest man.
Wear➦
To cause or make by friction or wasting; as, to wear a channel; to wear a hole.
Gear➦
To dress; to put gear on; to harness.
Wear➦
To form or shape by, or as by, attrition.
Trials wear us into a liking of what, possibly, in the first essay, displeased us.
Gear➦
To provide with gearing.
Wear➦
To endure or suffer use; to last under employment; to bear the consequences of use, as waste, consumption, or attrition; as, a coat wears well or ill; - hence, sometimes applied to character, qualifications, etc.; as, a man wears well as an acquaintance.
Gear➦
To adapt toward some specific purpose; as, they geared their advertising for maximum effect among teenagers.
Wear➦
To be wasted, consumed, or diminished, by being used; to suffer injury, loss, or extinction by use or time; to decay, or be spent, gradually.
Away, I say; time wears.
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee.
His stock of money began to wear very low.
The family . . . wore out in the earlier part of the century.
Gear➦
To be in, or come into, gear.
Wear➦
Impairment resulting from long use;
The tires showed uneven wear
Gear➦
A toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
Wear➦
A covering designed to be worn on a person's body
Gear➦
A mechanism for transmitting motion by gears for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle)
Wear➦
The act of having on your person as a covering or adornment;
She bought it for everyday wear
Gear➦
Equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.
Wear➦
Be dressed in;
She was wearing yellow that day
Gear➦
Set the level or character of;
She pitched her speech to the teenagers in the audience
Wear➦
Have on one's person;
He wore a red ribbon
Bear a scar
Wear➦
Have in one's aspect; wear an expression of one's attitude or personality;
He always wears a smile
Wear➦
Deteriorate through use or stress;
The constant friction wore out the cloth
Wear➦
Have or show an appearance of;
Wear one's hair in a certain way
Wear➦
Last and be usable;
This dress wore well for almost ten years
Wear➦
Go to pieces;
The lawn mower finally broke
The gears wore out
The old chair finally fell apart completely
Wear➦
Exhaust or tire through overuse or great strain or stress;
We wore ourselves out on this hike
Wear➦
Put clothing on one's body;
What should I wear today?
He put on his best suit for the wedding
The princess donned a long blue dress
The queen assumed the stately robes
He got into his jeans
