Link Centre Dictionary

chain

UK/ˈt͡ʃeɪn/ US/ˈtʃeɪn/ common slang uk
noun (10) verb (2)

noun

1.

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together

  • “the chain of command”
  • “a complicated concatenation of circumstances”
Synonyms
2.
3.

a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament

4.

a number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership

5.

anything that acts as a restraint

6.

a unit of length

7.
8.

a series of hills or mountains

  • “the valley was between two ranges of hills”
  • “the plains lay just beyond the mountain range”
Synonyms
9.

metal shackles; for hands or legs

Synonyms
10.

a necklace made by a stringing objects together

  • “a string of beads”
  • “a strand of pearls”
Synonyms

verb

1.

connect or arrange into a chain by linking

2.

fasten or secure with chains

  • “Chain the chairs together”
Antonyms

Origin

From Middle English cheyne, chaine, from Old French chaine, chaene (“chain”), from Latin catēna (“chain”), from Proto-Indo-European *kat- (“to braid, twist; hut, shed”). Doublet of catena. Displaced native Middle English rakil and rakent (from Old English racente (“chain”)); see rackan.

Phrases

  • a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
  • academy chain
  • air chain
  • ascending chain condition
  • ball and chain
  • ball chain
  • belly chain
  • beta chain
  • chain up

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.