side chain

noun

, Chemistry.

1. an open chain of atoms attached to an atom of a larger chain, or to a ring.

side chain

noun

1. chem a group of atoms bound to an atom, usually a carbon, that forms part of a larger chain or ring in a molecule

side chain

/ sīd /

1. A chain or ring in an organic molecule that branches off from a central structure or from a part that is a point of reference.

Word History and Origins

Origin of side chain¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

On the retail side, chain pharmacies are facing heavy competition from giants such as Amazon and Walmart, while a drop in consumer spending and an increase in theft have continued to eat into profits, analysts said.

From Los Angeles Times

On the retail side, chain pharmacies are facing heavy competition from giants such as Amazon and Walmart, a drop in consumer spending and an increase in theft that can eat into profits, analysts said.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of them were lipids, including arachidonic acid and other complex lipids containing either an arachidonic or a linoleic fatty acid side chain, the study specified.

From Salon

Dr. Stacey notes, "Intriguingly, we observed a pattern whereby a genetic propensity to higher levels of lipids containing an arachidonic acid fatty acid side chain was associated with a lower risk of bipolar disorder, while the inverse was true of lipids containing a linoleic acid side chain. Since arachidonic acid is synthesized from linoleic acid in the liver, this suggests arachidonic acid synthesizing pathways are important for bipolar disorder."

From Science Daily

The company also made smart technical decisions: for example, moving the game’s transactions to a dedicated “side chain” that enables the game to use the basic structure of Ethereum without processing transactions there, which can be slow and expensive.

From The Verge