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.
Chris Caldwell, chief information officer of Chili’s-owner Brinker International, said his senior leadership team agrees the restaurant chain is “not all in,” on AI.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
But building the specialized aircraft is a time-consuming process, made harder by a nine-year production gap that left the complex supply chain in tatters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
It also said it had sold off the trademark and other assets related to Maple Street Biscuit Co. a fast-casual chain it had owned, and said it would close that chain’s 16 remaining locations.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
The restaurant chain reported higher profit in its second quarter as increased customer traffic from menu innovation and marketing efforts drove revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
He pressed the key chain into her hand but didn’t let go of it or her.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The Jesus and Mary Chain cropped up a few times among suggestions for a Scottish Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
On June 23 the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing announced the American Nuclear Supply Chain Loans—$17.5 billion to jump-start long‑lead procurement items for 10 new 1.1 gigawatt AP1000 reactors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Rodrigo, fresh off the release of her junior album, on Monday unveiled her Daisy Chain Fields music festival and the roster of all-women artists set to take over Irvine’s Great Park on Aug. 29.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
Most recently, Amazon’s announcement in May of Amazon Supply Chain Service, a business that will provide distribution, warehousing, and last-mile delivery services, sent many logistics stocks south.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
Chain half buries us, but we barely notice.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
"China's domestic lithography advances bypass Western supply chains entirely, hitting equipment makers hardest," Angela Harmantas at Proactive Investors wrote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
In text chains detailed in the motion, agents discussed “soft counts” of “possibles” based on location drive-bys and “roaming.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Beneath the headlines, the move likely means more of what businesses and shoppers have already learned to live with: sudden policy shifts, scrambled supply chains and higher prices on imported goods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Every day that Gulf oil, gas, fertiliser and other essential products cannot get through the Strait of Hormuz to markets puts pressure on global supply chains and eventually prices.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
When the first chains went in, we figured we’d never fill it up.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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
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
By contrast, the German Reich was unfortunate in its ally Austria-Hungary during World War I; one observer likened it to “being chained to a rotting corpse.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
"The poor thing," said Yvaine, "chained up like that. Why do you not set her free?"
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
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
Overloading can happen in two ways - one is known as "daisy chaining".
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2025
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
“We’re going to reenact the story of Our Lady of Chains. We’re taking her over to the honey house and chaining her in there for the night.”
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
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.
