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chain Definition

chain (c̸hān)

noun

  1. a flexible series of joined links, usually of metal, used to pull, confine, etc. or to transmit power
  2. tire chain
    1. bonds, shackles, etc.
    2. anything that binds, ties, or restrains chains of love
    3. captivity; bondage
  4. any chainlike ornament, badge, etc.
  5. a chainlike measuring instrument, or its measure of length; specif.,
    1. a surveyor's (or Gunter's) chain (66 feet or 20.117 meters or 100 links)
    2. an engineer's chain (100 feet or 30.48 meters or 100 links)
    3. Football a chain 10 yards in length, used to measure for a first down
  6. a series of things connected causally, logically, physically, etc. chain of events, mountain chain
  7. ☆ a number of stores, restaurants, etc. owned by one company
  8. Chem. a linkage of atoms in a molecule

Etymology: ME & OFr chaine < L catena < IE base *kat-, to twist, twine > prob. OE heathor, confinement

transitive verb

  1. to fasten or shackle with chains
  2. to hold down, restrain, confine, etc.

Chain Definition

Chain (c̸hān)

Chain, Ernst Boris 1906-79; Brit. biochemist, born in Germany

chain Synonyms

chain

n.

  1. A series of links

    cable, string, link(s), train, connection, necklace, bracelet, ring series, leash, shackle, manacle.

  2. A sequence

    succession, series, string, concatenation; see series. See syn. study at series.

chain Synonyms

chain

v.

  1. To fasten

    connect, attach, secure, tether; see fasten 1, hold 1.

  2. To bind

    shackle, fetter, tie up, confine; see bind 1, hold 1, restrain 1.

chain Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • causation: There is no break in the chain of causation.
  • command: Chain of command Lust 74 Power of Training Wild Beasts.
  • custody: A court will require a chain of custody before accepting a piece of evidence.
  • reasoning: Justification for individual steps within the chain of reasoning used by the system.

Converse of object

subcontract: It will place limits on the quantity of work that can be contracted out, and will prohibit subcontracting chains.

Adjective modifier

  • onward: Another advantage is that there is no onward chain.
  • retail: Retail chain: advising a US company on the acquisition of a leading UK retail chain.
  • causal: Apparently genes do not stand at the undisputed head of a causal chain.
  • upward: Offering the benefit of having no upward chain, the property is worthy of an early internal viewing.
  • unbroken: Cool libation under cruisethere are countless comedians plus a almost unbroken chain.

Modifies a noun

  • reaction: Controls: Left Click on a molecule to start the chain reaction.
  • saw: She was armed with only an electric chain saw, which was not plugged in.
  • fatty: Tropical oils and mother's milk are by far the richest food sources of medium chain fatty acids available.
  • hoist: The problem was overcome by using a 1 ton chain hoist for the raising.

Noun used with modifier

  • supply: The food supply chain should decrease its reliance on non-renewable energy.
  • supermarket: Unlike a supermarket chain, he's not going to be paying you compensation is he?
  • polymerase: The development of the polymerase chain reaction has had a major impact on medicine.
  • food: In caves, the basis of the food chain is organic matter from the surface.
  • polypeptide: Proteins are composed of complex polypeptide chains with unique 3-dimensional structures.
  • daisy: There are some interesting twists to this well-photographed, well-edited feature, such as a steamy daisy chain.