Chain

UK: /ˈtʃeɪn/ US: /tʃeɪn/ ,(chān)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Chain / tʃeɪn/ noun

1. Sir Ernst Boris. 1906–79, British biochemist, born in Germany: purified and adapted penicillin for clinical use; with Fleming and Florey shared the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine 1945

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

chain /tʃeɪn/   n. 

1. a series of metal rings passing through one another, used for hauling, for supporting, or as decoration:
   [countable] Fixing the bicycle chain was a greasy, dirty job.
   [uncountable] Buy a long length of chain for the motor.
2. Nautical, Naval Terms chains,
   • [countable* used with a plural verb] strong, usually metal rings attached to a prisoner's hands or feet.
   • [uncountable* usually, in + ~] bondage;
     servitude: to live one's life in chains.
3. [countable] a series of things connected one after the other:
   See if you can reconstruct the chain of events leading up to the murder.
4. Geography [countable] a range of mountains one after the other.
5. Business a number of businesses under one ownership or management:
   [countable] a hotel chain.
6. Surveying [countable] a unit of length equal to 100 feet (30 m) or 66 feet (20 m), used by surveyors.

v. [~ + object]

7. to fasten, tie up, or confine with or as if with a chain:
   They chained the prisoners together.
   [~ + object + up]
   They chained the prisoners up.
   [~ + up + object]
   She chained up her dogs at night.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

chain  (chān), n. 

1. 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.
2. Often, chains. something that binds or restrains;
   bond:
   the chain of timidity; the chains of loyalty.
3. Nautical, Naval Terms chains:
   • shackles or fetters:
     to place a prisoner in chains.
   • bondage;
     servitude:
     to live one's life in chains.
   • [Naut.] (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.
   • Automotive See tire chain. 
4. a series of things connected or following in succession:
   a chain of events.
5. a range of mountains.
6. Business a number of similar establishments, as banks, theaters, or hotels, under one ownership or management.
7. Chemistry two or more atoms of the same element, usually carbon, attached as in a chain. Cf. ring¹ (def. 17).
8. [Survey., Civ. Engin.]
   • Surveying a distance-measuring device consisting of a chain of 100 links of equal length, having a total length either of 66 ft. (20 m) (Gunter's chain or surveyor's chain) or of 100 ft. (30 m) (engineer's chain.)
   • Surveying a unit of length equal to either of these.
   • Surveying a graduated steel tape used for distance measurements. Abbr.: ch
9. Mathematics See totally ordered set. 
10. Sport [Football.] a chain 10 yd. (9 m) in length for determining whether a first down has been earned.
11. British Terms, Idioms drag the chain, [Australian Slang.] to lag behind or shirk one's fair share of work.
12. Nautical, Idioms, Naval Terms in the chains, standing outboard on the channels or in some similar place to heave the lead to take soundings.

v.t. 

13. to fasten or secure with a chain:
    to chain a dog to a post.
14. to confine or restrain:
    His work chained him to his desk.
15. Surveying to measure (a distance on the ground) with a chain or tape.
16. Computing to link (related items, as records in a file or portions of a program) together, esp. so that items can be run in sequence.
17. Clothing to make (a chain stitch or series of chain stitches), as in crocheting.

v.i. 

18. to form or make a chain.

• Latin catēna fetter; see catena
• Old French chaeine
• Middle English chayne 1250–1300

chain′less, adj. 
chain′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 4. sequence, succession, train, set.

Chain  (chān), n. 

Sir Ernst Boris  (ûrnst, ernst), 1906–79, English biochemist, born in Germany: Nobel prize for medicine 1945.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chain / tʃeɪn/ noun

1. a flexible length of metal links, used for confining, connecting, pulling, etc, or in jewellery
2. (usually plural) anything that confines, fetters, or restrains: the chains of poverty
3. 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
4. a number of establishments such as hotels, shops, etc, having the same owner or management
5. (as modifier): a chain store
6. a series of related or connected facts, events, etc
7. a series of deals in which each depends on a purchaser selling before being able to buy
8. Also called: Gunter's chain a unit of length equal to 22 yards
9. Also called: engineer's chain a unit of length equal to 100 feet
10. 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, ring118
11. a series of natural features, esp approximately parallel mountain ranges
12. jerk someone's chain, yank someone's chain ⇒ to tease, mislead, or harass someone
13. off the chain ⇒ free from responsibility

verb

1. (transitive) often followed by up: to confine, tie, or make fast with or as if with a chain

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French chaine, ultimately from Latin; see catena