Bottom gear is a term commonly used in the automotive industry to describe the lowest gear in a vehicle’s transmission system. It is also known as first gear or low gear. This gear is used when the vehicle is moving at a slow speed, such as when starting from a standstill or climbing a steep hill. In this article, we will explore the definition, origin, meaning, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences of bottom gear.
Definitions
Bottom gear is the lowest gear in a vehicle’s transmission system, which provides the most torque and the least speed. It is used when the vehicle is moving at a slow speed, such as when starting from a standstill or climbing a steep hill. The gear ratio of bottom gear is the highest among all the gears in the transmission system.
Origin
The term bottom gear originated from the mechanical design of the transmission system in early automobiles. In those days, the transmission system was a manual one, and the gears were arranged in a vertical column. The lowest gear was at the bottom of the column, and hence it was called bottom gear.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, bottom gear is “the lowest gear in a vehicle’s transmission system, used for driving at very slow speeds.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “the lowest gear of a transmission system, giving the greatest mechanical advantage.” The Oxford Dictionary describes it as “the lowest gear in a vehicle’s transmission system, used for driving at low speeds.”
Associations
Bottom gear is associated with slow speed, high torque, and low fuel efficiency. It is also associated with the starting and stopping of a vehicle, as it is used to get the vehicle moving from a standstill and to slow it down when stopping.
Synonyms
The synonyms of bottom gear are first gear, low gear, and granny gear.
Antonyms
The antonyms of bottom gear are top gear and high gear.
The same root words
The same root words as bottom gear are gear, transmission, and mechanical.
Example Sentences
- I had to use bottom gear to climb the steep hill.
- You need to shift to bottom gear when starting from a standstill.
- The vehicle was moving too slowly, so I shifted to bottom gear.
- Bottom gear provides the most torque, but it consumes more fuel.
- I prefer to use bottom gear when driving in heavy traffic.