gearing
/ˈɡɪərɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡɪrɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgir-iŋ/ (ame, mw)
gearing — noun
1. a way of measuring how heavily a firm relies on loans from banks or other lender
a way of measuring how heavily a firm relies on loans from banks or other lenders, judged against the value of money raised from shareholders — high gearing signals strong dependence on borrowing.
Analysts warned that the airline's high gearing made it vulnerable during the recession.
collocation: high gearing
Nora's report showed that the supermarket chain had reduced its gearing by issuing new shares.
collocation: reduce gearing
The bank refused the loan because the property firm's gearing ratio was already above 80 percent.
Hugo explained that low gearing usually signals a cautious approach to growth.
Investors prefer companies with stable gearing during periods of rising interest rates.
- leverage
standard American equivalent
- debt ratio
narrower; refers to a specific calculation
文法句型
high/low gearing
gearing ratio
用法筆記
Mostly British English; American business writing uses 'leverage' for the same concept. Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'gearing ratio'.
常見錯誤
2. the set of toothed wheels fitted inside a machine, bicycle, or car that work tog
the set of toothed wheels fitted inside a machine, bicycle, or car that work together to pass power from the motor to the moving parts.
Takeshi noticed a strange noise coming from the gearing of the old tractor.
the gearing of [machine]
The bicycle's gearing was designed for steep mountain roads.
the gearing of [vehicle]
Shanti spent the afternoon cleaning grease from the gearing of her workshop drill.
Lower gearing helps the truck climb hills with a heavy load on the back.
The mechanic replaced the worn gearing before the race on Sunday morning.
- gears
plural countable form referring to the same parts
- transmission
broader; the whole system including gearing and shafts
文法句型
the gearing of [machine]
用法筆記
Refers to the whole arrangement of gears as a system, not a single gear. Distinguish from sense 1 by context: financial gearing is about money, mechanical gearing is about machine parts.