noun
Uncommon
gearing
Gearing (noun) means the set of gears in a machine, or the ratio between them. Example: “The bike's gearing makes hill climbs much easier.”
noun
1
The set of gears in a machine, or the ratio between them.
"The 4×4 could climb well, as it had relatively low gearing."
"The bike's gearing makes hill climbs much easier."
2
In finance, the level of debt a company carries relative to its own capital.
"Investors grew nervous about the company's high gearing."
How to use gearing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe system of gears in machinery, or (in finance) how much a company relies on borrowed money.
UK vs US
In British financial English, "gearing" is the standard term; American English usually says "leverage" instead.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- gearings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bike's _____ makes hill climbs much easier.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gearing
See all rhymes for gearing →Frequently asked questions
What does “gearing” mean?
The word “gearing” means the set of gears in a machine, or the ratio between them. In plain terms, the system of gears in machinery, or (in finance) how much a company relies on borrowed money.
How do you use “gearing” in a sentence?
Here is “gearing” used in a sentence: “The bike's gearing makes hill climbs much easier.”
What part of speech is “gearing”?
“Gearing” is a noun.
Is “gearing” a common word?
“Gearing” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gearing” have?
“Gearing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the set of gears in a machine, or the ratio between them.
