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Glite Dictionary
gearstick

gearstick

1 4.2
A lever in a car that you move by hand to change gears
  • noun
  • /ˈɡɪrˌstɪk/
  • UK
translation icon : palanca de cambios
  • Some cars have a gearstick mounted on the steering column instead of between the seats.

Examples

  • She prefers driving manual cars because she enjoys using the gearstick to change gears.

  • He gripped the gearstick and smoothly shifted into second gear.

  • He shifted the gearstick smoothly.

  • The gearstick was stuck in place.

  • She shifted the car into reverse using the gearstick.

  • The driver quickly grabbed the gearstick to change gears as they approached the steep hill.

  • He accidentally knocked the gearstick while trying to adjust the radio.

Synonyms

shifter
vsgearstick
  • Specialized
8 6.5

A lever that changes gears in a car or bike

is focused on the hand lever in motor vehicles rather than all gear devices
gearshift
vsgearstick
  • US
6 4.2

A lever in a car that you move to change how fast the wheels turn

is the hand-operated lever used to change gears manually rather than any mechanism
gear lever
vsgearstick
  • UK
1 3.6

A handle in a car you move to change gears

is the same hand-controlled lever but named differently in usage

How Automatic

automatic transmission
  • Specialized
7 3.7
synchromesh
  • Specialized
1 9.3
shifter
  • Specialized
8 6.5
gearstick
  • UK
1 4.2

Surface Forms

gearstick singular
gearsticks plural

Morphology

gearstick = gear + stick (transparent) = gear + stick

The meaning is directly the result of combining 'gear' and 'stick' — a stick (lever) used to operate gears.

Etymology

The word gearstick is simply gear + stick: gear means 'wheels with teeth' that change a car's speed and stick means 'long handle', so a gearstick is the handle you move to change gears in a car.