mitre gear: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Engineering
Quick answer
What does “mitre gear” mean?
A bevel gear where the two meshing shafts meet at a 90-degree angle and have gears of equal size, allowing them to transmit motion at a 1:1 ratio.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bevel gear where the two meshing shafts meet at a 90-degree angle and have gears of equal size, allowing them to transmit motion at a 1:1 ratio.
A specific type of bevel gear pair used in mechanical engineering to change the direction of rotational power transmission through a right angle. The term is often used interchangeably with 'mitre gears' (plural) to describe the paired set.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK uses 'mitre', US uses 'miter'. The term 'gear' is standard in both. The technical definition is identical.
Connotations
None beyond the spelling difference. It is a precise technical term with no additional regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in general language but standard in mechanical engineering contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “mitre gear” in a Sentence
The [drive/driven] shaft is connected via a mitre gear.A mitre gear transmits power between [perpendicular/intersecting] shafts.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mitre gear” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The mitre-gear assembly requires precise alignment.
American English
- The miter-gear configuration is standard in this drive system.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in procurement or sales within the industrial machinery sector.
Academic
Used in engineering textbooks, research papers, and technical manuals on machine design and power transmission.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by someone describing a specific mechanical system.
Technical
The primary context. Common in mechanical engineering, automotive design (differentials), robotics, and clockmaking.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mitre gear”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mitre gear”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mitre gear”
- Using 'mitre gear' to refer to any bevel gear (it must be a 90-degree, 1:1 ratio pair).
- Misspelling as 'mighter gear' or 'mitter gear'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to mitre gear' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A mitre gear is a specific type of bevel gear. All mitre gears are bevel gears, but not all bevel gears are mitre gears. Mitre gears are defined by the 90-degree shaft angle and equal size.
They are used in any application requiring a precise right-angle change in rotational direction with a 1:1 speed ratio, such as mechanical clocks, hand drills, marine propulsion systems, and the differentials of automobiles.
No, a standard mitre gear pair has a 1:1 ratio, meaning the input and output shafts rotate at the same speed. To change speed and direction simultaneously, a different type of bevel gear (like a spiral bevel gear with differing tooth counts) is used.
The spelling: 'mitre gear' in UK English and 'miter gear' in US English. The technical definition and application are identical.
A bevel gear where the two meshing shafts meet at a 90-degree angle and have gears of equal size, allowing them to transmit motion at a 1:1 ratio.
Mitre gear is usually technical/engineering in register.
Mitre gear: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪtə ɡɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪt̬ɚ ɡɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a purely technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MITRE (the pointy hat of a bishop) sitting on a corner. A MITRE GEAR connects two shafts meeting at a right-angle 'corner', and the gear teeth might resemble the pointed segments of the hat.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HANDSHAKE AT A CORNER: Two rotational forces meeting and agreeing to turn together at a perfect right angle, with equal influence.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a mitre gear?