chain

Plural: chains

Noun

• a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
  • "the chain of command"
• (chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)
• a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
• (business) a number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership
• anything that acts as a restraint
• a unit of length
• British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)
• a series of hills or mountains
• a linked or connected series of objects
  • "a chain of daisies"
• a necklace made by a stringing objects together
• A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
• A series of interconnected things.
• A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.
• A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
• A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
• A long measuring tape.
• A unit of length, exactly equal to 22 yards, which is 4 rods or 100 links, and approximately equal to 20.12 metres; the length of a Gunter's surveying chain; the length of a cricket pitch.
• A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
• A formal sum of cells in a CW complex of a certain dimension k (in which case the formal sums are called k'''-chains); a formal sum of simplices or cubes of a certain dimension in a simplical complex or cubical complex (respectively).
• An element of a group (or module) in a chain complex.
• A sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).
• That which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond.
• Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
• A livery collar, a chain of office.
• The warp threads of a web.

Verb

Verb Forms: chained, chaining, chains

• To fasten, secure, or connect with a chain.
• connect or arrange into a chain by linking
• fasten or secure with chains
  • "Chain the chairs together"
• To fasten something with a chain.
• To connect as if with a chain, due to dependence, addiction, or other feelings
• To link multiple items together.
• To secure someone with fetters.
• To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
• To obligate.
• To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
• To be chained to another data item.
• To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
• To load and automatically run (a program).

Examples

• a chain of ideas, one leading to the next
• a chain of mountains
• He wore a gold chain around the neck.
• I managed to CHAIN a series of words together for an impressive Scrabble combo.
• She's been chained to her principles since she was 18, it's unlikely you can convince her otherwise.
• side chain
• Sometimes I feel like I'm chained to this computer.
• That chain of restaurants is expanding into our town.
• The anchor is connected to the boat with a 100-metre long chain.
• the chains of habit
• This led to an unfortunate chain of events.
• When examined, the molecular chain included oxygen and hydrogen.
• You should chain your bicycle to the railings to protect it from being stolen.

Synonyms

chain of mountains, chemical chain, concatenation, Ernst Boris Chain, mountain chain, mountain range, range, range of mountains, Sir Ernst Boris Chain, strand, string, rackle

Antonyms

unchain

Anagrams of chain