low gear
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The lowest forward gear ratio in a gearbox: This is the gear that provides the most torque but the least speed, primarily used for starting a vehicle from a complete stop or for driving at very slow speeds, such as when climbing a steep hill.
Usage
- Low gear is used when a vehicle needs maximum power at low speeds. It is the first gear in a manual transmission or the "L" or "1" setting in an automatic transmission.
- It is essential for initial acceleration and for maintaining control on steep inclines or in difficult terrain.
Examples
- Noun:
- Put the car in low gear to climb this steep driveway.
- When starting on a hill, it's best to use low gear to prevent rolling backward.
Advanced Usage
- "to be in low gear": Used metaphorically to describe operating or progressing slowly or with great effort.
- The project has been in low gear since the funding was cut.
- "to shift into low gear": To begin moving slowly or to reduce one's pace or effort.
- After the marathon, I need to shift into low gear for a few days.
Variants and Related Words
- First gear: A direct synonym for low gear in a manual transmission context.
- Low range: Often used in the context of four-wheel-drive vehicles, referring to a special gearset for extreme off-road conditions, which is conceptually similar to using a very low gear.
- Gear ratio: The relationship between the number of turns made by the driving gear and the driven gear. A low gear has a high numerical gear ratio (e.g., 3.5:1).
Synonyms
- First gear
- Bottom gear (chiefly British English)
Related Phrases
- "to take it down a gear": An idiomatic expression meaning to slow down or reduce intensity, related to the concept of shifting to a lower gear.
- You're working too hard; you should take it down a gear.
Noun
- the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving