arresting gear: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Technical / Military / Nautical
Quick answer
What does “arresting gear” mean?
The mechanical system on an aircraft carrier deck designed to quickly stop an aircraft during landing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The mechanical system on an aircraft carrier deck designed to quickly stop an aircraft during landing.
Can refer, by analogy, to any heavy-duty safety or deceleration system designed to halt or control high-speed movement in technical contexts (e.g., test tracks, emergency runways).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is essentially identical and standardised due to international naval cooperation. The UK may occasionally use 'arrester gear' or 'arrester wire system' synonymously.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation; purely technical in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to larger US Navy and greater volume of related technical literature/media.
Grammar
How to Use “arresting gear” in a Sentence
The [AIRCRAFT] engaged the arresting gear.The [CARRIER] is equipped with modern arresting gear.Maintain/Service/Deploy the arresting gear.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arresting gear” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pilot must arrest the aircraft's momentum using the deck gear.
- The new system can arrest a 30-tonne aircraft in under two seconds.
American English
- The pilot needs to arrest the plane's speed with the tailhook.
- The emergency barrier arrested the runaway jet.
adverb
British English
- The aircraft stopped arrestingly quickly.
American English
- The plane was arrested effectively by the new gear.
adjective
British English
- The arresting-gear mechanism requires daily inspection.
- They reviewed the arrester hook specifications.
American English
- The arresting-gear cable snapped under stress.
- He is an arresting gear technician.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in aerospace/defense contracting.
Academic
Used in engineering, naval architecture, military history, and aerospace studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Known mainly through documentaries, films, or by enthusiasts.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Precise term in naval aviation, carrier operations, and related engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arresting gear”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “arresting gear”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arresting gear”
- Using as a verb (e.g., 'The pilot arresting-geared the jet' – incorrect).
- Treating 'arresting' as a present participle verb in the phrase (e.g., 'The gear was arresting the plane' is less common than 'The gear arrested the plane').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, for military carriers. Some civilian test facilities or space program landing strips (for space shuttle) have analogous systems, but the term is overwhelmingly associated with naval aviation.
For language learners, initially yes. However, in technical and military contexts, the primary meaning is 'to stop or check motion'. The legal meaning is a figurative extension of this original physical sense.
A tailhook (or arrester hook), a strong hook mounted on the underside of the aircraft's fuselage, which catches one of several steel cables stretched across the deck.
Yes, they are synonyms. 'Arrester gear' is a common variant, especially in British English, but both are understood and used interchangeably in technical manuals globally.
The mechanical system on an aircraft carrier deck designed to quickly stop an aircraft during landing.
Arresting gear is usually technical / military / nautical in register.
Arresting gear: in British English it is pronounced /əˈrɛstɪŋ ɡɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈrɛstɪŋ ɡɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Catch the wire (related idiom referring to successful engagement of the gear).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a police officer (arresting) a sprinting jet on a ship deck. The 'gear' is the handcuffs and equipment used to stop it.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HIGH-SPEED OBJECT IS A FUGITIVE; STOPPING IT IS ARRESTING IT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'arresting gear' most precisely used?