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.
But another chicken chain is drawing a line.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
One indicator of a storm's severity to communities in the southern US is whether the stalwart restaurant chain The Waffle House would close its doors to customers.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Many still in use are powered by older, two-stroke engines, like those in chain saws, which are louder and more polluting than four-stroke engines, like those in cars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
Making good on this announcement would set off a chain reaction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
He’s wearing a red Kangol bucket hat, a thick, twisted gold chain, and a colorful Troop jacket.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
"I think spices are a really good thing to start getting your head around," she told the BBC World Service's The Food Chain podcast.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 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
But make no mistake: by dialing up their otherwise elegant chamber pop with a little extra crunch and distortion, the players of Not for Radio came ready to rock out with the Daisy Chain crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
Creating a Supply Chain By the fall of 32 BCE, Mark Antony and Cleopatra had moved their base of operation to the coastal city of Patras near the Gulf of Corinth.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
"As AI applications continue to deepen, international cloud service providers and various countries are accelerating investment in AI infrastructure, boosting demand across related supply chains such as semiconductors and servers," the statement said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
She also said that the two chains might be able to work together in more ways than one might initially think.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Diesel supply chains often get disrupted in extreme weather, and diesel generators can be finicky if they have been sitting dormant for long periods.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The prime minister expressed concerns about how British industry and supply chains could be affected by the planned Made In Europe scheme.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
He called for his “afflicted, degraded and slumbering brethren” to cast off their chains.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
The Brick is one of many programs and gadgets that have hit the market to help people who feel chained to their devices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 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
Outside the capital's national police facility known as Zone 7, family members had chained themselves to prison gates, while some had spent weeks sleeping in tents.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
"You get the impression that Sly Dunbar is chained to a studio seat somewhere in Jamaica, but in fact what happens is that his drum tracks are so interesting, they get used again and again."
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026
My feet feel like they’re chained to the ground.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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
New offences were created including interfering with national infrastructure, "locking on" – chaining or gluing yourself to something – and tunnelling underground.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2025
Pointing his wand at the thick cuffs chaining the beast to the floor, he yelled, “Relashio!”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
