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.
"Benefits will be felt all over the country because our supply chain reaches all the way from the north all the way to the south of the UK," Woldbye said.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
The chain has been a source of memorable marketing over the years, however, going back to a viral tweet during the 2013 Grammy Awards suggesting that Pharrell Williams had borrowed the hat from Arby’s logo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Slower neutrons are more likely to trigger additional fission reactions in uranium, helping sustain the chain reaction needed for a working reactor.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
"The important thing for us is to recognise that Europe needs to build out the entire stack," he said, referring to the AI technology chain from data centres to chatbots and other apps.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
On a usual day, operators are making sure that the chain reaction clips along at just the right rate for power production.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Located at the end of Chain of Craters Road on the island of Hawaii, also called "the big island", the formation was a popular - and heavily photographed - tourist destination.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
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
“You are the racket. What in the world are you wearing? Chain mail?”
From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg
It could break polyester chains into their individual building blocks, known as monomers, while also cleaving penicillin.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
"You need to diversify the type of value chains and crops that you are currently self-sufficient, and food security becomes now in many countries a matter of national security," he added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Restaurant chains are redesigning menus with new portion sizes and formats to attract price-conscious consumers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Defra says that an average of £2.3bn a year is being invested through its farming schemes in England and insists it is protecting farmers in trade deals and also making supply chains fairer.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
The chains shook, and the Titans planted their feet on the hooks to keep them secure.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
"We did the recording in the morning and then come lunch time we all went off. We came back and all the studio doors were locked and chained because of the strike," said McCallum.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 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
Boxes are typically bolted into concrete or chained in place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
It is what’s known as a privilege escalation exploit, and if it were chained together with other attacks it could be used by a hacker to seize control of the computer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
“Ah, so they keep you chained to the workbench all day.”
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
In chaining many weaker chips together, it aims to mimic cutting-edge models.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
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
More than 200 pro-Palestinian protesters blocked off traffic on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, with some people chaining themselves together across lanes and shutting down a vital Bay Area route during the busy morning commute.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 16, 2023
By winter he was back in the woods with Charlie McDonald, cutting cottonwoods, chaining them to the draft horses, and skidding them out of the woods in snow and sleet.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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