What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Gear vs Rear - What's the difference?

gear | rear |

As a proper noun gear

is feb (february).

As a verb rear is

to raise physically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate or rear can be to move; stir or rear can be to place in the rear; to secure the rear of.

As an adjective rear is

(of eggs) underdone; nearly raw or rear can be being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.

As an adverb rear is

(british|dialect) early; soon.

As a noun rear is

the back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; - opposed to front.

gear

English

Noun

(wikipedia gear)
  • (uncountable) equipment or paraphernalia, especially that used for an athletic endeavor.
  • Clothing; garments.
  • * Spenser
    • Array thyself in thy most gorgeous gear .
  • (obsolete) Goods; property; household items.
    • (Chaucer)
  • * Robynson (More's Utopia)
    • Homely gear and common ware.
  • (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.
  • (countable) a particular combination or choice of interlocking gears, such that a particular gear ratio is achieved.
  • (countable) A configuration of the transmission of a motor car so as to achieve a particular ratio of engine to axle torque
  • (slang) recreational drugs
  • * 2003 , Marianne Hancock, Looking for Oliver (page 90)
    • Have you got any gear ? Dominic, have you got any acid?
  • (uncountable, archaic) stuff.
  • * 1662 , , Book III, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 113:
    • "When he was digged up, which was in the presence of the Magistracy of the Town, his body was found entire, not at all putrid, no ill smell about him, saving the mustiness of the grave-Clothes, his joynts limber and flexible, as in those that are alive, his skin only flaccid, but a more fresh grown in the room of it, the wound of his throat gaping, but no gear nor corruption in it; there was also observed a Magical mark in the great toe of his right foot, viz. an Excrescency in the form of a Rose."
  • (obsolete) Business matters; affairs; concern.
  • * Spenser
    • Thus go they both together to their gear .
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) Anything worthless; nonsense; rubbish.
    • (Wright)
  • * Latimer
    • That servant of his that confessed and uttered this gear was an honest man.

    Synonyms

    * cog, cogwheel, gearwheel

    Derived terms

    * change gear * change gears * high gear * gear lever * gear shift * gear up * shift gear * shift gears * up a gear

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (engineering) To provide with gearing; to fit with gears in order to achieve a desired gear ratio.
  • (engineering) To be in, or come into, gear.
  • to dress; to put gear on; to harness.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (mostly British (Scouse) ) great or fantastic

    • Anagrams

    * * * * ----

    rear

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) reren, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To raise physically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.
  • * (rfdate)
    • In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me.
  • * (rfdate)
    • Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
  • To construct by building; to set up
    • to rear defenses or houses
    to rear one government on the ruins of another.
  • * (rfdate)
    • One reared a font of stone.
  • To raise spiritually; to lift up; to elevate morally.
  • * (rfdate)
    • It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts.
  • (obsolete) To lift and take up.
  • * (rfdate)
    • And having her from Trompart lightly reared , Upon his set the lovely load.
  • To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster.
  • * (rfdate)
    • He wants a father to protect his youth, and rear him up to virtue.
  • To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle (cattle-rearing).
  • (obsolete) To rouse; to strip up.
  • * (rfdate),
    • And seeks the tusky boar to rear.
  • To rise up on the hind legs, as a bolting horse.
    • Usage notes
    See note under raise.
    Synonyms
    * (rise up on the hind legs) prance * build * elevate * erect * establish * lift * raise
    Derived terms
    * raring

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) reren, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To move; stir.
  • (of geese) To carve.
    • Rere that goose!
    Related terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) rere, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l) * (l) (US)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (of eggs) Underdone; nearly raw.
  • (of meats) Rare.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 4

    (etyl) rere, ultimately from (etyl) retro. Compare arrear.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.
    • Antonyms
    * front

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (British, dialect) early; soon
  • * (rfdate) .
    • Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear !

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; - opposed to front.
  • * (rfdate)
    • Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost.
  • (military) Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest.
  • * (rfdate) Milton
    • When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear.
  • (anatomy) The buttocks, a creature's bottom
    • Synonyms
    * (buttocks) rear end

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To place in the rear; to secure the rear of.
  • (transitive, vulgar, British) To sodomize (perform anal sex)
    • Derived terms
    * rear admiral * rear echelon * rear end * rear front - (military), the rear rank of a body of troops when faced about and standing in that position. * rear guard * rearhorse * rear line - (military), the line in the rear of an army. * rearmost * rearmouse * rear rank - (military), the rank or line of a body of troops which is in the rear, or last in order. * rear sight - (firearms ), the sight nearest the breech. * rearward * bring up the rear - to come last or behind. * rearing bit - a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing.

    Anagrams

    * ----