Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense chains, present participle chaining, past tense, past participle chained
1. countable noun
A chain consists of metal rings connected together in a line.
His open shirt revealed a fat gold chain.
The dogs were leaping and growling at the full stretch of their chains.
Synonyms: tether, coupling, link, bond More Synonyms of chain
2. plural noun [inNOUN]
If prisoners are in chains, they have thick rings of metal round their wrists or ankles to prevent them from escaping.
He'd spent four and a half years in windowless cells, much of the time in chains.
3. plural noun [oft NOUNof noun]
You can refer to feelings and duties which prevent you from doing what you want to do as chains.
[literary]
He had to break right now the chains of habit that bound him to the present.
4. verb
If a person or thing is chainedto something, they are fastened to it with a chain.
The dog was chained to the leg of the one solid garden seat. [beVERB-ed + to]
She chained her bike to the railings. [VERB noun + to]
Some demonstrators chained themselves to railings inside the court building. [VERB noun to noun]
We were sitting together in our cell, chained to the wall. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: bind, confine, restrain, handcuff More Synonyms of chain
Chain up means the same as chain.
I'll lock the doors and chain you up. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
They kept me chained up every night and released me each day. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
All the rowing boats were chained up. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
[Also VERBPARTICLE noun]
5. countable noun
A chain of things is a group of them existing or arranged in a line.
...a chain of islands known as the Windward Islands. [+ of]
Students tried to form a human chain around the parliament.
6. countable noun
A chainof shops, hotels, or other businesses is a number of them owned by the same person orcompany.
...a large supermarket chain.
...Italy's leading chain of cinemas. [+ of]
7. singular noun
A chain of events is a series of them happening one after another.
...the bizarre chain of events that led to his departure in January 1938. [+ of]
8. See also food chain
Phrasal verbs:
See chain up
More Synonyms of chain
chain in British English
(tʃeɪn)
noun
1.
a flexible length of metal links, used for confining, connecting, pulling, etc, or in jewellery
2. (usually plural)
anything that confines, fetters, or restrains
the chains of poverty
3. Also called: snow chains(usually plural)
a set of metal links that fit over the tyre of a motor vehicle to increase traction and reduce skidding on an icy surface
4.
a.
a number of establishments such as hotels, shops, etc, having the same owner or management
b.
(as modifier)
a chain store
5.
a series of related or connected facts, events, etc
6.
a series of deals in which each depends on a purchaser selling before being able to buy
7.
(of reasoning) a sequence of arguments each of which takes the conclusion of the preceding as a premise
See (as an example) sorites
8. Also called: Gunter's chain
a unit of length equal to 22 yards
9. Also called: engineer's chain
a unit of length equal to 100 feet
10. chemistry
two or more atoms or groups bonded together so that the configuration of the resulting molecule, ion, or radical resembles a chain
See also open chain, ring1 (sense 18)
11. geography
a series of natural features, esp approximately parallel mountain ranges
12. off the chain
13. jerk someone's chain
verb
14. surveying
to measure with a chain or tape
15. (transitive; often foll byup)
to confine, tie, or make fast with or as if with a chain
16.
to sew using chain stitch
Word origin
C13: from Old French chaine, ultimately from Latin; see catena
Chain in British English
(tʃeɪn)
noun
Sir Ernst Boris. 1906–79, British biochemist, born in Germany: purified and adapted penicillin for clinical use; with Fleming and Florey shared the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine 1945
Chain in American English
(tʃeɪn)
Ernst Boris1906-79; Brit. biochemist, born in Germany
chain in American English
(tʃeɪn)
noun
1.
a flexible series of joined links, usually of metal, used to pull, confine, etc.or to transmit power
2.
tire chain
3. [pl.]
a.
bonds, shackles, etc.
b.
anything that binds, ties, or restrains
chains of love
c.
captivity; bondage
4.
any chainlike ornament, badge, etc.
5.
a chainlike measuring instrument, or its measure of length
; specif.,
a.
a surveyor's (or Gunter's) chain (66 feet or 20.117 meters or 100 links)
b.
an engineer's chain (100 feet or 30.48 meters or 100 links)
c. American Football
a chain 10 yards in length, used to measure for a first down
: often the chains
6.
a series of things connected causally, logically, physically, etc.
chain of events, mountain chain
7. US
a number of stores, restaurants, etc. owned by one company
8. Chemistry
a linkage of atoms in a molecule
see also open chain, closed chain, side chain
verb transitive
9.
to fasten or shackle with chains
10.
to hold down, restrain, confine, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈseries
Word origin
ME & OFr chaine < L catena < IE base *kat-, to twist, twine > prob. OE heathor, confinement
chain in Retail
(tʃeɪn)
Word forms: (regular plural) chains
noun
(Retail: Outlets)
A chain is a number of similar stores, hotels or restaurants with the same owner or management.
They are a nationwide retail chain with over 90 stores.
Large retail chains have pushed out many of the independent businesses from town centers.
A chain is a number of similar stores, hotels or restaurants with the same owner or management.
chain store
Related wordsA retailer that is not part of one of the big retail chains is described as independent.
More idioms containing
chain
yank someone's chain
a ball and chain
COBUILD Collocations
chain
big chain
Examples of 'chain' in a sentence
chain
Most of the large academy chains have no need of selection.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Lock the door and put chains on?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The fuel supply chain is making opportunistic profits while sterling tanks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It may damage rather than help the nuclear supply chain in this country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not knowing the law or trying to pass the buck to another company in the chain is no excuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He chained his bike to a fence and told his parents there was a spare key to the lock in his bedroom.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rugby union is one gigantic chain with one man's role integral to another.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If so, those responsible higher up the chain of command must be held accountable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
BRITAIN'S biggest pub chain is toasting a profit - after overhauling the business to deal with new laws.
The Sun (2016)
He wears heavy gold chains and bracelets, is well over 6ft and fairly broad.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
None of the big retailers has a target for cutting food waste in its supply chain.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Visitors are banned from the courtyard and all buildings are secured with chains and combination locks.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The game continues until the players have formed one long chain.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The best independents near my home are cheaper than the high street chains.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were charged with illegal assembly and blocking traffic by attempting to form a human chain.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Do prayer chains and groups promote this personal work of seeing?
Christianity Today (2000)
The revolution has come and bike chains are first up against the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He went on to single out a certain department store chain.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
At all stages in the buying chain there are changes in attitude emerging.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Windows were chained shut and doors welded together.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You had to go in and put a chain around the props.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
This process can continue forming a long chain that causes destruction at each step.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
The big five managed chains typically will seek as many footprints in as many cities as possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The chain will now be selling the piece in all shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Does he care that these smaller outfits are under threat from the larger chains?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is not the first time the chain has seen a mobile service collapse.
The Sun (2015)
Right up to the door of the plane he had his wrists handcuffed and his legs in chains.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There has been a lot of research by us and some universities that shows that supply chain performance underpins companyperformance.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It was blowing dogs off chains.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She suggested that in a few days, wheel chains would be required.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A footman got a mayor's chain of office for a tenner.
The Sun (2014)
In each part of the country, chain grocery stores have flourished over 30 years.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
chain
British English: chain /tʃeɪn/ NOUN
A chain consists of metal rings connected together in a line.
He wore a gold chain around his neck.
American English: chain
Arabic: سِلْسِلَة
Brazilian Portuguese: corrente
Chinese: 链
Croatian: lanac
Czech: řetěz
Danish: kæde
Dutch: ketting
European Spanish: cadena
Finnish: ketju
French: chaîne anneaux de métal
German: Kette Technik
Greek: αλυσίδα
Italian: catena
Japanese: 鎖
Korean: 사슬
Norwegian: kjede
Polish: łańcuch
European Portuguese: corrente
Romanian: lanț
Russian: цепь
Latin American Spanish: cadena
Swedish: kedja
Thai: โซ่
Turkish: zincir
Ukrainian: ланцюг
Vietnamese: xích
All related terms of 'chain'
big chain
A chain of shops, hotels , or other businesses is a number of them owned by the same person or company.
chain saw
A chain saw is a big saw with teeth fixed in a chain that is driven round by a motor .
chain up
Afro-chain
(in the Caribbean ) a large chain necklace with a central pendant : usually worn with a dashiki by men
chain drive
a chain of links passing over sprockets that transmits rotation from one shaft to another
chain gang
In the United States , a chain gang is a group of prisoners who are chained together to do work outside their prison . Chain gangs existed especially in former times.
chain grate
a type of mechanical stoker for a furnace , in which the grate consists of an endless chain that draws the solid fuel into the furnace as it rotates
chain-link
designating a fence made of galvanized steel links that are continuously interwoven
chain mail
Chain mail is a kind of armour made from small metal rings joined together so that they look like cloth .
chain-react
to undergo a chain reaction
chain rule
a theorem that may be used in the differentiation of the function of a function. It states that d u /d x = (d u /d y )(d y /d x ), where y is a function of x and u a function of y
chain shot
cannon shot comprising two balls or half balls joined by a chain , much used formerly, esp in naval warfare to destroy rigging
chain-smoke
Someone who chain-smokes smokes cigarettes or cigars continuously.
chain store
A chain store is one of several similar shops that are owned by the same person or company , especially one that sells a variety of things.
choke chain
a collar and lead for a dog so designed that if the dog drags on the lead the collar tightens round its neck
curb chain
something that restrains or holds back
daisy chain
A daisy chain is a string of daisies that have been joined together by their stems to make a necklace .
door chain
a small chain for securing a door to a doorjamb to prevent intrusion
drive chain
a roller chain that transmits power from one toothed wheel to another
food chain
The food chain is a series of living things which are linked to each other because each thing feeds on the one next to it in the series.
grand chain
a figure in formation dances, such as the lancers and Scottish reels , in which couples split up and move around in a circle in opposite directions, passing all other dancers until reaching their original partners
heavy chain
a type of polypeptide chain present in an immunoglobulin molecule
hotel chain
a group of hotels which belong to the same company or owner , or are associated in some way
long-chain
having a relatively long chain of atoms in the molecule
open chain
a chain of atoms in a molecule that is not joined at its ends into the form of a ring
paper chain
a decorative chain of loops of coloured paper
side chain
a group of atoms bound to an atom, usually a carbon , that forms part of a larger chain or ring in a molecule
tire chain
a device made of chains , attached around a tire's tread on a motor vehicle to increase traction , as on snow
watch chain
a chain used for fastening a pocket watch to the clothing
bicycle chain
a chain that transmits power from the pedals to the driving wheel of a bicycle
chain letter
A chain letter is a letter, often with a promise of money, that is sent to several people who send copies on to several more people. Chain letters are illegal in some countries.
chain printer
a line printer in which the type is on a continuous chain , used to print computer output
chain-smoker
A chain-smoker is a person who chain-smokes.
chain stitch
an ornamental looped embroidery stitch resembling the links of a chain
closed chain
any structural arrangement , used in the models and formulas of molecules, consisting of a chain of atoms that forms a closed geometric figure ; ring
driving chain
a roller chain that transmits power from one toothed wheel to another
duplex chain
a roller chain having two sets of rollers linked together, used for heavy-duty applications
golden chain
any leguminous tree or shrub of the Eurasian genus Laburnum , having clusters of yellow drooping flowers: all parts of the plant are poisonous
Markov chain
a sequence of events the probability for each of which is dependent only on the event immediately preceding it
Pennine Chain
range of hills in N England, extending from the Cheviot Hills southward to Derbyshire & Staffordshire : highest point, c. 3,000 ft (914 m)
roller chain
a chain for transmitting power in which each link consists of two free-moving rollers held in position by pins connected to sideplates
safety chain
a chain on the fastening of a bracelet , watch , etc, to ensure that it cannot open enough to fall off accidentally
supply chain
a channel of distribution beginning with the supplier of materials or components , extending through a manufacturing process to the distributor and retailer, and ultimately to the consumer
timing chain
A timing chain is a continuous roller chain that drives the camshaft of an engine from the crankshaft .
branched chain
an open chain of atoms with one or more side chains attached to it
chain lightning
lightning that zigzags across the sky
chain reaction
A chain reaction is a series of chemical changes , each of which causes the next.
Gunter's chain
a measuring chain 22 yards in length , or this length as a unit
learner's chain
an inexperienced team of slaughtermen working in a freezing works
measuring chain
a flexible length of metal links used in calculating distances
Chinese translation of 'chain'
chain
(tʃeɪn)
n
(c/u)链(鏈)条(條) (liàntiáo) (根, gēn)
(c) (= jewellery) 链(鏈)子 (liànzi) (条(條), tiáo)
(c)[of islands, mountains]一系列 (yīxìliè)
(c)[of shops, hotels]连(連)锁(鎖) (liánsuǒ)
(c)[of events, circumstances]一连(連)串 (yīliánchuàn)
vt
to chain sb/sth to sth用链(鏈)条(條)将(將)某人/某物拴在某物上 (yòng liàntiáo jiāng mǒurén/mǒuwù shuān zài mǒuwù shang)
in chains用枷锁(鎖)锁(鎖)着(著) (yòng jiāsuǒ suǒzhe)
to pull the chain冲(沖)厕(廁)所 (chōng cèsuǒ)
1 (noun)
Definition
a flexible length of metal links, used for fastening, binding, or connecting, or in jewellery
The dogs were growling and pulling at their chains.
Synonyms
tether
The eagle sat on a tether, looking fierce.
coupling
link
They hope to cement close links with Moscow.
bond
He managed to break free of his bonds.
shackle
He unbolted the shackles on Billy's hands.
fetter
manacle
He had a steel-reinforced cell with manacles fixed to the walls.
2 (noun)
Definition
a number of establishments, such as hotels or shops, that have the same owner or management
A new chain of shops is to be opened next year.
Synonyms
group
multiple
3 (noun)
Definition
a series of connected facts or events
a horrific chain of events
Synonyms
series
a series of explosions
set
Only she and Mr Cohen had complete sets of keys to the shop.
train
a train of events which would culminate in tragedy
string
The incident was the latest in a string of attacks.
sequence
the sequence of events that led to the murder
succession
He took a succession of jobs which have stood him in good stead.
progression
the steady progression of events in my life
concatenation
(verb)
Definition
to restrict, fasten, or bind with or as if with a chain
We were kept in a cell, chained to the wall.
Synonyms
bind
All are bound by the same strict etiquette.
confine
restrain
Police restrained her on July 28.
handcuff
They tried to handcuff him but he fought his way free.