food chain

[ food cheyn ]

noun

1. Ecology. a series of organisms interrelated in their feeding habits, the smallest being fed upon by a larger one, which in turn feeds a still larger one, etc.
2. the chain from a food source to the ultimate consumer.
3. a hierarchy ranked by status, importance, influence, etc.:

   people who are high up on the political and media food chain.

food chain

noun

1. ecology a sequence of organisms in an ecosystem in which each species is the food of the next member of the chain
2. informal.
   the hierarchy in an organization or society

food chain

/ fo̅o̅d /

1. The sequence of the transfer of food energy from one organism to another in an ecological community. A food chain begins with a producer , usually a green plant or alga that creates its own food through photosynthesis. In the typical predatory food chain, producers are eaten by primary consumers (herbivores) which are eaten by secondary consumers (carnivores), some of which may in turn be eaten by tertiary consumers (the top carnivore in the chain).
2. ◆ Many species of animals in an ecological community feed on both plants and animals and thus play multiple roles in the chain. Parasites feed on living tissues, generally without killing their hosts, and may themselves be hosts to smaller parasites. In addition, organisms that die without being eaten are consumed by detritivores, some of which serve as prey for other consumers. The complex system of interrelated food chains in an environment is known as a food web.
3. See more at trophic level

food chain

1. The series of steps by which energy is obtained, used, and transformed by living things. For example: sunlight helps grain to grow, the grain feeds cattle, and humans eat the cattle.

Notes

Harmful chemicals can become concentrated as they move up the food chain.

Word History and Origins

Origin of food chain¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The fast food chain announced in a press release Wednesday that its McRib will return for a limited time only at participating restaurants, starting Dec. 3.

From Salon

The fast food chain’s ice cream machines were made by the Taylor Company, an Illinois-based manufacturer of food service equipment.

From Salon

The shy bird plays an important role in the food chain by preying on rodents, snakes and other pests and is also the state bird of Rajasthan, where it is called 'Godawan' by locals.

From BBC

Although mosquitoes can carry diseases, they are an important part of the food chain - as nourishment for fish, birds, bats and frogs, for example - and some are important pollinators.

From BBC

Following a row over whether Kamala Harris once worked at McDonald's, a doctored image of her in the fast food chain's uniform was shared on Facebook by her supporters and went viral.

From BBC