link

[lingk]

noun

one of the rings or separate pieces of which a chain is composed.

anything serving to connect one part or thing with another; a bond or tie: The locket was a link with the past.

a unit in a communications system, as a radio relay station or a television booster station.

any of a series of sausages in a chain.

a cuff link.

a ring, loop, or the like: a link of hair.

Computers. an object, as text or graphics, linked through hypertext to a document, another object, etc.

Surveying, Civil Engineering.

(in a surveyor's chain) a unit of length equal to 7.92 inches (20.12 centimeters).
one of 100 rods or loops of equal length forming a surveyor's or engineer's chain.

Chemistry. bond¹(def 15).

Machinery. a rigid, movable piece or rod, connected with other parts by means of pivots or the like, for the purpose of transmitting motion.

verb (used with or without object)

to join by or as if by a link or links; connect; unite (often followed by up): The new bridge will link the island to the mainland. The company will soon link up with a hotel chain.

Computers.

to create links in or to a Web page or electronic document: The page is linked to my online store.
to have links to a Web page or electronic document: The essay links to three of my published articles.

Origin of link

1375–1425; late Middle English link(e) < Old Danish lænkia chain; cognate with Old Norse hlekkr link (plural, chain), Old English hlence coat of chain mail, akin to German Gelenk joint

Related formslink·er, noun

Synonyms for link

2. connection, connective. 10. bond, league, conjoin, fasten, bind, tie, pin.

Synonym study

2. See bond¹.

Word story

7, 12b. See Internet.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for linker

Historical Examples of linker

But he was aware of Linker's political importance and was most unwilling to offend him.
The Smuggler's Cave
George A. Birmingham
Linker went on doggedly and shamelessly with his suggestions.
The Smuggler's Cave
George A. Birmingham
I suppose that you and Linker between you will know what they do require.
The Smuggler's Cave
George A. Birmingham
I'm not saying anything against Hinton or Linker, not a word.
The Smuggler's Cave
George A. Birmingham
"In every way," said Linker, nervously but with the needed emphasis.
The Smuggler's Cave
George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for linker

linker

noun

computing a program that adjusts two or more machine-language program segments so that they may be simultaneously loaded and executed as a unit

(in systemic grammar) a word that links one word, phrase, sentence, or clause to another; a co-ordinating conjunction or a sentence connectorCompare binder (def. 11)

link

noun

any of the separate rings, loops, or pieces that connect or make up a chain

something that resembles such a ring, loop, or piece

a road, rail, air, or sea connection, as between two main routes

a connecting part or episode

a connecting piece in a mechanism, often having pivoted ends

Also called: radio link a system of transmitters and receivers that connect two locations by means of radio and television signals

a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a chain. 1 link of a Gunter's chain is equal to 7.92 inches, and of an engineer's chain to 1 foot

computing short for hyperlink

weak link an unreliable person or thing within an organization or system

verb

(often foll by up) to connect or be connected with or as if with links

(tr) to connect by association, etc

Derived Formslinkable, adjective

Word Origin for link

C14: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse hlekkr link

link

noun

(formerly) a torch used to light dark streets

Word Origin for link

C16: perhaps from Latin lychnus, from Greek lukhnos lamp

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

Word Origin and History for linker

link

n.2

"torch," 1520s, of uncertain origin, possibly from Medieval Latin linchinus, from lichinus "wick," from Greek lykhnos "portable light, lamp."

link

"bind, fasten, to couple," late 14c., believed to be from link (n.), though it is attested earlier. Related: Linked; linking.

link

early 15c., "one of a series of rings or loops which form a chain; section of a cord," probably from Old Norse *hlenkr or a similar Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse hlekkr "link," Old Swedish lænker "chain, link," Norwegian lenke, Danish lænke), from Proto-Germanic *khlink- (cf. German lenken "to bend, turn, lead," gelenk "articulation, joint, link," Old English hlencan (plural) "armor"), from PIE root *kleng- "to bend, turn." Missing link between man and apes dates to 1880.

linker in Medicine

linker

[lĭng′kər]

n.

A fragment of synthetic DNA containing a restriction site that may be used for splicing of genes.

linker in Science

link

[lĭngk]

A segment of text or a graphical item that serves as a cross-reference between parts of a webpage or other hypertext documents or between webpages or other hypertext documents.