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Glite Dictionary
second gear

second gear

3 2.5
A car setting used after first for low to medium speed and more power
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛkənd ɡɪr/
translation icon : segunda marcha
  • The car started to pick up speed when I shifted into second gear.
  • shift into second gear
  • car in second gear
  • get into second gear

Just make, make, make the VW van only start in second gear.

Examples

  • He started off again and was already in second gear when he stopped again.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Heading into the Grand Hotel hairpin, second gear.

    Rush (2013)

  • OK, all right, so up into second gear, Get some speed.

  • And just wait until I get into second gear.

    Inspector Gadget 2 (2003)

  • I was only in second gear at the time.

    Dangerous Curves (1988)

  • I can get up to 60 miles an hour with this baby in second gear!

    The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)

  • - Clutch down, second gear, Mr Brown.

    Paddington 2 (2017)

  • Matthew barreled down the Drag, winding it out in second gear.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Heading into Portier, second gear, clip the apex, light brake, stay in second, looking for a good exit.

    Rush (2013)

  • The truck was an old, beat-up, rusted 1930s vintage that had the stick in the steering column and was impossible to shift into second gear.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

second
vssecond gear
  • Specialized
6.1

A low gear in a vehicle used for slower speed or climbing hills

is the one used after first to give moderate speed with extra power

Antonyms

first gear
3 2.8

A gear in a car that makes the car move slowly when you start

How Fast

high gear
13 3.7
third gear
1 3.4
second gear
3 2.5
first gear
3 2.8

Surface Forms

second gear singular
second gears plural

Morphology

second + gear

The meaning 'the gear used after first gear' is directly and literally composed from 'second' (an ordinal position) + 'gear' (mechanical transmission element), so the phrase names the second gear in a vehicle. This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common compositional pattern that a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand.

Etymology

Second gear comes from how car gears work: after you start in first, you move into second to get a bit more speed while the engine still gives strong power. That's why second gear means the gear used for 'moderate speed and more power'.