chain

[ cheyn ]

/ tʃeɪn /

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noun

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.
tire chain.

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.Compare ring¹ (def. 17).

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. Abbreviation: ch

Mathematics. totally ordered set.

Football. a chain 10 yards (9 meters) in length for determining whether a first down has been earned.

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to form or make a chain.

OTHER WORDS FOR chain

4 sequence, succession, train, set.

See synonyms for chain on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about chain

drag the chain, Australian Slang. to lag behind or shirk one's fair share of work.

in the chains, Nautical. standing outboard on the channels or in some similar place to heave the lead to take soundings.

Origin of chain

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

OTHER WORDS FROM chain

chainless, adjectivechainlike, adjectivein·ter·chain, verb (used with object)un·chained, adjective

Words nearby chain

Chagres, chagrin, chagul, chai, Chaikovski, chain, chainage, chainbelt, chain coral, chain drive, chaîné

Other definitions for chain (2 of 2)

Chain

[ cheyn ]

/ tʃeɪn /

noun

Sir Ernst Boris

[urnst, ernst], /ɜrnst, ɛrnst/, 1906–79, English biochemist, born in Germany: Nobel Prize in Medicine 1945.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chain in a sentence

Police did not immediately identify the security guard or say whether he worked for a private company contracted by the restaurant chain.
Security guard at Chick-fil-A shoots armed robbery suspect in Northeast Washington, police say|Peter Hermann|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
Disruptions to one link of that supply chain, say steel manufacturing in Turkey, ripple throughout.
Global inequity in COVID-19 vaccination is more than a moral problem|Jonathan Lambert|February 26, 2021|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.
Relativity Space unveils plans for a new, much larger and fully reusable rocket|Darrell Etherington|February 26, 2021|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.
Singapore-based Raena gets $9M Series A for its pivot to skincare and beauty-focused social commerce|Catherine Shu|February 26, 2021|TechCrunch

Other chains might have edgier marketing or more innovative menus.
Where does the new McDonald’s chicken sandwich rank? Turns out, the Arches fall flat.|Emily Heil|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
You expect soldiers of all ranks to understand the need to respect the chain of command, regardless of personal feelings.
We Need Our Police to Be Better Than This|Nick Gillespie|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Say what you want about Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), the chain has done something special.
Muslims & Jews Unite vs. Abercrombie & Fitch|Dean Obeidallah|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the scanning takes place, KSM is led down a long corridor flanked by chain-link fences.
9/11 Mastermind Is Afraid of the Ladies|Tim Mak|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Elderly women played Triple Double Diamond and Tiki Magic while they chain-smoked.
I Watched a Casino Kill Itself: The Awful Last Nights of Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal|Olivia Nuzzi|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So while mourning the closing of De Robertis, consider that we might someday mourn the bankruptcy of whatever chain replaces it.
De Robertis, a New York Great, Bids Farewell|Lizzie Crocker|December 4, 2014|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?
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Then he closed the spring with a snap, and she let him pass the chain over her hand once more.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
From the ceiling, which was divided into compartments painted in dark red and blue, hung a heavy lamp by a chain of gilded silver.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
An amount of slack in the chain caused the balls to knock on passing this roller before entering the pump bottom.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The large size of the rag-wheel gave the rapidly revolving chain and balls a great speed.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for chain (1 of 2)

chain

/ (tʃeɪn) /

noun

a flexible length of metal links, used for confining, connecting, pulling, etc, or in jewellery

(usually plural) anything that confines, fetters, or restrainsthe 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 premiseSee (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 chainSee also open chain, ring 1 (def. 18)

geography a series of natural features, esp approximately parallel mountain ranges

off the chain Australian and NZ informal free from responsibility

jerk someone's chain or yank someone's chain informal to tease, mislead, or harass someone

verb

surveying to measure with a chain or tape

(tr often foll by up) to confine, tie, or make fast with or as if with a chain

to sew using chain stitch

Word Origin for chain

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

British Dictionary definitions for chain (2 of 2)

Chain

/ (tʃeɪn) /

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for chain (1 of 2)

chain

[ chān ]

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.

Scientific definitions for chain (2 of 2)

Chain

Sir Ernst Boris 1906-1979

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 Idioms and Phrases with chain

chain

In addition to the idioms beginning with chain

chain reaction
chain smoker

also see:

ball and chain
pull someone's chain

chain

OTHER WORDS FOR chain

Idioms about chain

Origin of chain

OTHER WORDS FROM chain

Words nearby chain

Other definitions for chain (2 of 2)

Words related to chain

How to use chain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chain (1 of 2)

Word Origin for chain

British Dictionary definitions for chain (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for chain (1 of 2)

Scientific definitions for chain (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with chain