a series of objects connected one after the other, usually in the form of a series of metal rings passing through one another, used either for various purposes requiring a flexible tie with high tensile strength, as for hauling, supporting, or confining, or in various ornamental and decorative forms.
Often chains.something that binds or restrains; bond: the chain of timidity; the chains of loyalty.
chains,
shackles or fetters: to place a prisoner in chains.
bondage; servitude: to live one's life in chains.
Nautical.(in a sailing vessel) the area outboard at the foot of the shrouds of a mast: the customary position of the leadsman in taking soundings.
tire chain.
a series of things connected or following in succession: a chain of events.
a range of mountains.
a number of similar establishments, as banks, theaters, or hotels, under one ownership or management.
Chemistry. two or more atoms of the same element, usually carbon, attached as in a chain.Compare ring1 (def. 17).
Surveying, Civil Engineering.
a distance-measuring device consisting of a chain of 100 links of equal length, having a total length either of 66 feet (20 meters) (Gunter's chain, or surveyor's chain ) or of 100 feet (30 meters) (engineer's chain ).
a unit of length equal to either of these.
a graduated steel tape used for distance measurements. Abbreviation: ch
Mathematics. totally ordered set.
Football. a chain 10 yards (9 meters) in length for determining whether a first down has been earned.
verb (used with object)
to fasten or secure with a chain: to chain a dog to a post.
to confine or restrain: His work chained him to his desk.
Surveying. to measure (a distance on the ground) with a chain or tape.
Computers. to link (related items, as records in a file or portions of a program) together, especially so that items can be run in sequence.
to make (a chain stitch or series of chain stitches), as in crocheting.
verb (used without object)
to form or make a chain.
Idioms for chain
drag the chain, AustralianSlang. to lag behind or shirk one's fair share of work.
in the chains, Nautical. standing outboard on the channels or in some similar place to heave the lead to take soundings.
Origin of chain
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chayne, from Old French chaeine, from Latin catēna “fetter”; see catena
SYNONYMS FOR chain
4 sequence, succession, train, set.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR chain ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM chain
chainless,adjectivechainlike,adjectivein·ter·chain,verb (used with object)un·chained,adjective
Cars swarm dangerously around them on this two-lane road carved, literally, into the side of a chain of mountains.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the chain of death continued in the family after the burial of their mother.
This Man Lost 35 Relatives to Ebola and His Community Wants Him Gone|Wade C.L. Williams|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As far as he could see, chain after chain of mountains heaved themselves into his vision.
Moon-Face and Other Stories|Jack London
A chain of snowy peaks stretched from south-west to north-east.
An Explorer's Adventures in Tibet|A. Henry Savage Landor
I must declare to you that to us the Czar is not the only chain that fetters the body of the country.
Mother|Maksim Gorky
Suddenly her hand went up to the chain around her neck and then down to her belt.
The Four Corners Abroad|Amy Ella Blanchard
Then he quieted down and lay very, very still; and the next day the trapper came along and pulled him out by the chain.
Forest Neighbors|William Davenport Hulbert
British Dictionary definitions for chain (1 of 2)
chain
/ (tʃeɪn) /
noun
a flexible length of metal links, used for confining, connecting, pulling, etc, or in jewellery
(usually plural)anything that confines, fetters, or restrainsthe chains of poverty
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
a number of establishments such as hotels, shops, etc, having the same owner or management
(as modifier)a chain store
a series of related or connected facts, events, etc
a series of deals in which each depends on a purchaser selling before being able to buy
(of reasoning) a sequence of arguments each of which takes the conclusion of the preceding as a premiseSee (as an example) sorites
Also called: Gunter's chaina unit of length equal to 22 yards
Also called: engineer's chaina unit of length equal to 100 feet
chemtwo or more atoms or groups bonded together so that the configuration of the resulting molecule, ion, or radical resembles a chainSee also open chain, ring 1 (def. 18)
geographya series of natural features, esp approximately parallel mountain ranges
off the chainAustralian and NZinformalfree from responsibility
jerk someone's chainoryank someone's chaininformalto tease, mislead, or harass someone
verb
surveyingto measure with a chain or tape
(tr often foll by up) to confine, tie, or make fast with or as if with a chain
to sew using chain stitch
Word Origin for chain
C13: from Old French chaine, ultimately from Latin; see catena
British Dictionary definitions for chain (2 of 2)
Chain
/ (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
A group of atoms, often of the same element, bound together in a line, branched line, or ring to form a molecule.♦ In a straight chain, each of the constituent atoms is attached to other single atoms, not to groups of atoms.♦ In a branched chain, side groups are attached to the chain.♦ In a closed chain, the atoms are arranged in the shape of a ring.
Scientific definitions for chain (2 of 2)
Chain
SirErnst Boris1906-1979
German-born British bacteriologist who, with Howard Florey, developed and purified penicillin in 1939. For this work, they shared a 1945 Nobel Prize with Alexander Fleming, who first discovered the antibiotic in 1928.