chain drive

American

noun

a driving mechanism transmitting power by means of an endless chain.

chain drive British

noun

engineering a chain of links passing over sprockets that transmits rotation from one shaft to another

"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

Other Word Forms

chain-driven

adjective

Etymology

Origin of chain drive

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

chain drive

Powertrain Naturally aspirated liquid-cooled 90-degree V4 engine, 1,158-cc displacement, counter-rotating crankshaft, semi dry sump lubrication; six-speed manual transmission with straight-cut gears and multi-plate clutch, with slipper action on overrun; chain drive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

“Our ports are the backbone of our economy — critical hubs that support our supply chain, drive commerce, create jobs and connect us all,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who visited the port in March.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2024

It looked much like modern bicycles do, with a chain drive, equally-sized wheels, and a diamond frame.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2019

Monsieur Lallement was soon to patent his invention, which still lacked the gears and chain drive of a modern bicycle.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2019

Donovan tried to press the broken fork back onto the chain drive.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023