link

¹

[ lingk ]

noun

1. one of the rings or separate pieces of which a chain is composed.
2. anything serving to connect one part or thing with another; a bond or tie:

   The locket was a link with the past.

   Synonyms: connective, connection

3. a unit in a communications system, as a radio relay station or a television booster station.
4. any of a series of sausages in a chain.
5. a cuff link.
6. a ring, loop, or the like:

   a link of hair.

7. Also called hyperlink. Digital Technology.
   1. an object, as text or graphics, linked through hypertext to a document, another object, etc.:

      Click on the link below to read the full article.

   2. the connection between elements linked by hypertext, or the code or tag content required to make such a connection:

      The website was full of broken links, typos, and images that failed to load.

8. Surveying, Civil Engineering.
   1. (in a surveyor's chain) a unit of length equal to 7.92 inches (20.12 centimeters).
   2. one of 100 rods or loops of equal length forming a surveyor's or engineer's chain.
9. Chemistry. bond ¹( def 15 ).
10. Machinery. a rigid, movable piece or rod, connected with other parts by means of pivots or the like, for the purpose of transmitting motion.

    Synonyms: pin, tie, bind, fasten, conjoin, league, bond

verb (used with or without object)

1. to join by or as if by a link or links; connect; unite (often followed by up ):

   The new bridge will link the island to the mainland.

   The company will soon link up with a hotel chain.

2. Digital Technology. to create digital connections between web pages or between elements on web pages using hypertext, or to have such links on or to a web page or electronic document:

   The page is linked to my online store.

   The essay links to three of my published articles.

link

²

[ lingk ]

noun

1. a torch, especially of tow and pitch.

link

¹

/ lɪŋk /

noun

1. (formerly) a torch used to light dark streets

link

²

/ lɪŋk /

noun

1. any of the separate rings, loops, or pieces that connect or make up a chain
2. something that resembles such a ring, loop, or piece
3. a road, rail, air, or sea connection, as between two main routes
4. a connecting part or episode
5. a connecting piece in a mechanism, often having pivoted ends
6. Also calledradio link a system of transmitters and receivers that connect two locations by means of radio and television signals
7. a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a chain. 1 link of a Gunter's chain is equal to 7.92 inches, and of an engineer's chain to 1 foot
8. computing short for hyperlink
9. weak link
   an unreliable person or thing within an organization or system

verb

1. often foll by up to connect or be connected with or as if with links
2. tr to connect by association, etc

link

/ lĭngk /

1. A segment of text or a graphical item that serves as a cross-reference between parts of a webpage or other hypertext documents or between webpages or other hypertext documents.

Derived Forms

• ˈlinkable, adjective

Other Words From

• link·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of link¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English link(e), of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Swedish lænker “chain”; cognate with Old Norse hlekkr “link” (plural, “chain”), from hlenkr (unattested); related to Old English hlence “coat of chain mail,” akin to German Gelenk “joint, link”

Origin of link²

First recorded in 1520–30; perhaps special use of link ¹; the torches so called may have been made of strands twisted together in chainlike form

Word History and Origins

Origin of link¹

C16: perhaps from Latin lychnus, from Greek lukhnos lamp

Origin of link²

C14: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse hlekkr link

Synonym Study

See bond ¹.

Example Sentences

"We have identified a strong link between this positive social behavior, known to elicit joyous emotions, and some of the more intricate forms of cooperation seen in non-human species."

From Science Daily

Roe is planning another paper examining changes to household finances linked to taking anti-obesity medicines -- in terms of both pharmacy and food costs.

From Science Daily

The CDC also reported one death linked to the outbreak.

From Salon

Survivors in their 80s say many of them and their children have suffered cancers, genetic defects and other illnesses that must be linked to radioactive fall-out.

From BBC

His case helped link the hippocampus to brain function and memory formation.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• associate
• attach
• bind
• combine
• hook up
• identify
• join
• relate
• tie
• unite