chain

¹

[ cheyn ]

noun

1. 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.
2. Often chains. something that binds or restrains; bond:

   the chain of timidity; the chains of loyalty.

3. chains,
   1. shackles or fetters:

      to place a prisoner in chains.

   2. bondage; servitude:

      to live one's life in chains.

   3. 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.
   4. tire chain.
4. a series of things connected or following in succession:

   a chain of events.

   Synonyms: set, train, succession, sequence

5. a range of mountains.
6. a number of similar establishments, as banks, theaters, or hotels, under one ownership or management.
7. Chemistry. two or more atoms of the same element, usually carbon, attached as in a chain. Compare ring ¹( def 17 ).
8. Surveying, Civil Engineering.
   1. 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.
   2. a unit of length equal to either of these.
   3. a graduated steel tape used for distance measurements. : ch
9. Mathematics. totally ordered set.
10. Football. a chain 10 yards (9 meters) in length for determining whether a first down has been earned.

verb (used with object)

1. to fasten or secure with a chain:

   to chain a dog to a post.

2. to confine or restrain:

   His work chained him to his desk.

3. Surveying. to measure (a distance on the ground) with a chain or tape.
4. 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.
5. to make (a chain stitch or series of chain stitches), as in crocheting.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or make a chain.

Chain

²

[ cheyn ]

noun

1. Sir Ernst Boris [urnst, ernst], 1906–79, English biochemist, born in Germany: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1945.

chain

¹

/ 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 calledsnow 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. 1. a number of establishments such as hotels, shops, etc, having the same owner or management
   2. ( 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. See sorites
   (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 calledGunter's chain a unit of length equal to 22 yards
9. Also calledengineer's chain a unit of length equal to 100 feet
10. See ring, open chain
    chem 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 ring 1
11. geography a series of natural features, esp approximately parallel mountain ranges
12. off the chain informal.
    off the chain free from responsibility
13. jerk someone's chain informal.
    jerk someone's chainyank someone's chain to tease, mislead, or harass someone

verb

1. surveying to measure with a chain or tape
2. troften foll byup to confine, tie, or make fast with or as if with a chain
3. to sew using chain stitch

Chain

²

/ tʃeɪn /

noun

1. ChainSir Ernst Boris19061979MBritishGermanSCIENCE: chemist 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

¹

/ chān /

1. A group of atoms, often of the same element, bound together in a line, branched line, or ring to form a molecule.
2. ◆ In a straight chain , each of the constituent atoms is attached to other single atoms, not to groups of atoms.
3. ◆ In a branched chain , side groups are attached to the chain.
4. ◆ In a closed chain , the atoms are arranged in the shape of a ring.

Chain

²

1. 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.

Other Words From

• chainless adjective
• chainlike adjective
• inter·chain verb (used with object)
• un·chained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chain¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chayne, from Old French chaeine, from Latin catēna “fetter”; catena

Word History and Origins

Origin of chain¹

C13: from Old French chaine, ultimately from Latin; see catena

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. drag the chain, Australian Slang. to lag behind or shirk one's fair share of work.
2. in the chains, Nautical. standing outboard on the channels or in some similar place to heave the lead to take soundings.

More idioms and phrases containing chain

• ball and chain
• pull someone's chain

Example Sentences

Police did not immediately identify the security guard or say whether he worked for a private company contracted by the restaurant chain.

From Washington Post

Disruptions to one link of that supply chain, say steel manufacturing in Turkey, ripple throughout.

From Science News

It’s really bringing automation that replaces the factory fixed tooling, supply chains, hundreds of thousands of parts, manual labor and slow iteration speed, with something that I believe is needed for the future on Earth, too.

From TechCrunch

They also saw that even though new C2C retail models, like social commerce, are gaining popularity, the beauty industry’s supply chain hasn’t kept up.

From TechCrunch

Other chains might have edgier marketing or more innovative menus.

From Washington Post

You expect soldiers of all ranks to understand the need to respect the chain of command, regardless of personal feelings.

From The Daily Beast

Say what you want about Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), the chain has done something special.

From The Daily Beast

After the scanning takes place, KSM is led down a long corridor flanked by chain-link fences.

From The Daily Beast

Elderly women played Triple Double Diamond and Tiki Magic while they chain-smoked.

From The Daily Beast

So while mourning the closing of De Robertis, consider that we might someday mourn the bankruptcy of whatever chain replaces it.

From The Daily Beast

She stood, in her young purity, at one end of the chain of years, and Mrs. Chepstow—did she really stand at the other?

From Project Gutenberg

Then he closed the spring with a snap, and she let him pass the chain over her hand once more.

From Project Gutenberg

From the ceiling, which was divided into compartments painted in dark red and blue, hung a heavy lamp by a chain of gilded silver.

From Project Gutenberg

An amount of slack in the chain caused the balls to knock on passing this roller before entering the pump bottom.

From Project Gutenberg

The large size of the rag-wheel gave the rapidly revolving chain and balls a great speed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conglomerate
• group
• string