Engineering English
Gear
Mechanical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A rotating machine element with cut teeth that mesh with another toothed part to transmit torque and change the speed or direction of motion.
Example in context
“The technician replaced the worn gear because its damaged teeth caused excessive noise and vibration in the transmission.”
“Teknisyen, hasarlı dişleri şanzımanda aşırı gürültü ve titreşime neden olduğu için aşınmış dişli çarkı değiştirdi.”
Where engineers use it
Gears appear in gearboxes, engines, and robotic drives; engineers select gear type, module, and tooth count to transmit torque at the required speed ratio reliably.
Synonyms: cogwheel, toothed wheel
Practice: can you use “Gear” at work?
During a design review, you must choose between spur and helical gears for a conveyor drive; justify your selection based on noise, cost, and load capacity.
Show a model answer
“This gear meshes with the pinion to reduce the output speed.”
“Gear” in 21 languages
| English | Gear |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Dişli çark |
| French | Engrenage |
| German | Zahnrad |
| Spanish | Engranaje |
| Chinese | 齿轮 |
| Arabic | ترس |
| Portuguese | Engrenagem |
| Russian | Зубчатое колесо |
| Japanese | 歯車 |
| Italian | Ingranaggio |
| Vietnamese | Bánh răng |
| Hindi | गियर |
| Thai | เฟือง |
| Indonesian | Roda gigi |
| Korean | 기어 |
| Bengali | গিয়ার |
| Dutch | Tandwiel |
| Swedish | Kugghjul |
| Finnish | Hammaspyörä |
| Ukrainian | Зубчасте колесо |
Frequently asked questions
What does Gear mean in engineering?
A rotating machine element with cut teeth that mesh with another toothed part to transmit torque and change the speed or direction of motion. In Mechanical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Gear?
Gear is pronounced /ɡɪər/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Gear used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The technician replaced the worn gear because its damaged teeth caused excessive noise and vibration in the transmission.”
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