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.
Often chains. something that binds or restrains; bond.
the chain of timidity; the chains of loyalty.
chains,
shackles or fetters.
to place a prisoner in chains.
bondage; servitude.
to live one's life in chains.
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.
a series of things connected or following in succession.
a chain of events.
a range of mountains.
a number of similar establishments, as banks, theaters, or hotels, under one ownership or management.
Chemistry. two or more atoms of the same element, usually carbon, attached as in a chain.
Surveying, Civil Engineering.
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.
a unit of length equal to either of these.
a graduated steel tape used for distance measurements. ch
Mathematics. totally ordered set.
Football. a chain 10 yards (9 meters) in length for determining whether a first down has been earned.
to fasten or secure with a chain.
to chain a dog to a post.
to confine or restrain.
His work chained him to his desk.
Surveying. to measure (a distance on the ground) with a chain or tape.
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.
to make (a chain stitch or series of chain stitches), as in crocheting.
drag the chain, to lag behind or shirk one's fair share of work.
in the chains, standing outboard on the channels or in some similar place to heave the lead to take soundings.
a flexible length of metal links, used for confining, connecting, pulling, etc, or in jewellery
(usually plural) anything that confines, fetters, or restrains
the chains of poverty
Also called: snow 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
a number of establishments such as hotels, shops, etc, having the same owner or management
( as modifier )
a chain store
a series of related or connected facts, events, etc
a series of deals in which each depends on a purchaser selling before being able to buy
(of reasoning) a sequence of arguments each of which takes the conclusion of the preceding as a premise See (as an example) sorites
Also called: Gunter's chain. a unit of length equal to 22 yards
Also called: engineer's chain. a unit of length equal to 100 feet
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
geography a series of natural features, esp approximately parallel mountain ranges
informal free from responsibility
informal to tease, mislead, or harass someone
surveying to measure with a chain or tape
to confine, tie, or make fast with or as if with a chain
to sew using chain stitch
A group of atoms, often of the same element, bound together in a line, branched line, or ring to form a molecule.
◆ In a straight chain, each of the constituent atoms is attached to other single atoms, not to groups of atoms.
◆ In a branched chain, side groups are attached to the chain.
◆ In a closed chain, the atoms are arranged in the shape of a ring.
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chayne, from Old French chaeine, from Latin catēna “fetter”; see catena
A chain is a long series of connected metal links. Chains are strong and flexible, so they're useful for pulling a heavy load or securing a dangerous animal. The chain that anchors a ship to a dock or secures a warehouse door is just a larger version of the gold chain you wear around your neck — both are made of loops of metal. More figurative types of chains include things that hold you back, like the chains of your responsibility to your family, or connected occurrences — like a chain of events that leads to you meeting your best friend.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Other European companies in the semiconductor supply chain fell sharply as well, with France’s Soitec and Germany’s Aixtron leading declines in the Stoxx Europe 600 index.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Taco Bell did not have to determine how a microscopic parasite entered an international lettuce supply chain.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
A store manager at a coffee chain, Woodward bought a house last year to avoid throwing money at increasingly high rent payments, but it has been “hard to survive.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Davies from Which? said: "While manufacturers face genuine supply chain pressures and sustainability challenges, they have a responsibility to shoppers to be completely upfront when they change a product's recipe."
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
She was spitting like a bobcat on a chain.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Phil Pluck, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation, the body which represents firms transporting temperature-controlled foods, said Britain was "pretty close to crisis".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Gain insight on Novartis, Bangkok Chain Hospital and more in the latest Market Talks covering the health care sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The new hospital will act as a key link to Bangkok Chain Hospital’s network as it is located in strategically strong location, based on management’s update regarding the acquisition in analyst meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Katseye ended its Daisy Chain Fields announcement by sending their best wishes to Rodrigo, the rest of the lineup and all who put effort toward the event.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
I was imagining a Chain of Reasoning inside my head which was like this 1.
From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon
The strikes have also targeted steel companies, another key sector, as well as supply chains -- notably in the rail sector -- and major warehouses.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
Fast-food chains are rethinking their shift toward kiosk and app ordering at the expense of friendly smiles and the human touch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The other key determinant of the copper price in recent years has been the growing impact of geopolitics, deglobalization, disrupted supply chains and resource autonomy.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
But some of the former Aritzia employees, who have also worked for other retailers, including middle-market and luxury chains, said Aritzia’s fixation on looks goes beyond the industry norm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
With hands that trembled with eagerness, I unhooked the chains and drew back the massive bolts.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
Searching for "secret information" that could help it cheat the evaluation, the OpenAI system "chained together multiple attack vectors, including using stolen credentials".
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
"You were not chained to a door or something, right? You were not locked up in a basement. The chains were less obvious, but they were there."
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Nobody knows how, since the bell’s been chained up for such a long time that the metal links have rusted.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
The bug wasn’t the worst type there is, but it could be chained together with another hack to seize control of a computer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
He wasn’t usually scared of dogs, and he wasn’t really really scared of this one either, but it was definitely comforting—and weird—to know that this Samantha dog was chained up outside in the dark.
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
Adding eight gigawatts of new demand to a 2.4 gigawatt system is like chaining an M1 Abrams tank to a Toyota Camry and expecting the two vehicles to drive calmly down the highway together.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
You and your husband have gone from wanting to sell this house to actually chaining yourself to the house and the future occupants.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 21, 2026
He said chaining swings had become a trope used by people who don't understand island culture.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2024
Ben Williamson, who works for PeTA, says that the new box shows that people today no longer accept “the chaining and caging of wild animals.”
From NewsForKids.net ● Apr. 23, 2024
I’m actually surprised Rufus is chaining his bike to a gate and following me into the hospital.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
