Definition of chain - WordReference.com Dictionary

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chain:

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Adapted From: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

chain
A	noun
	1	chain
			a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚instrumentality; instrumentation ╚connection; connexion; connector; connecter; connective ╚attachment; bond ╚ligament ╚chain ╚tire chains; snow chains ╚pull chain ╚paper chain ╚fob; watch chain; watch guard ╚chatelaine ╚bicycle chain ╚anchor chain
	2	chain, string, strand
			a necklace made by a stringing objects together; "a string of beads"; "a strand of pearls";
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚decoration; ornament; ornamentation ╚adornment ╚jewelry; jewellery ╚necklace ╚chain, string, strand
	3	chain
			anything that acts as a restraint
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚instrumentality; instrumentation ╚device ╚restraint; constraint ╚chain
	4	iron, irons, chain, chains
			metal shackles; for hands or legs
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚instrumentality; instrumentation ╚device ╚restraint; constraint ╚shackle; bond; hamper; trammel; trammels ╚iron, irons, chain, chains
	5	chain
			a number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership
		Category Tree: group; grouping ╚social group ╚organization; organisation ╚enterprise ╚business; concern; business concern; business organization; business organisation ╚chain ╚retail chain ╚restaurant chain ╚discount chain ╚apparel chain
	6	chain, concatenation
			a series of things depending on each other as if linked together; "the chain of command"; "a complicated concatenation of circumstances"
		Category Tree: group; grouping ╚arrangement ╚ordering; order; ordination ╚series ╚chain, concatenation ╚daisy chain ╚catena
	7	chain, chemical chain
			(chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)
		Category Tree: entity ╚thing ╚unit; building block ╚chain, chemical chain ╚open chain ╚closed chain; ring
	8	range, mountain range, range of mountains, chain, mountain chain, chain of mountains
			a series of hills or mountains; "the valley was between two ranges of hills"; "the plains lay just beyond the mountain range"
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚natural object ╚geological formation; formation ╚range, mountain range, range of mountains, chain, mountain chain, chain of mountains ╚Black Hills ╚Berkshires; Berkshire Hills ╚Balkans; Balkan Mountains; Balkan Mountain Range ╚Australian Alps ╚Atlas Mountains ╚Appalachians; Appalachian Mountains ╚Apennines ╚Andes ╚Alps; the Alps ╚Alleghenies; Allegheny Mountains ╚Alaska Range ╚Admiralty Range ╚Adirondacks; Adirondack Mountains
	9	Chain, Ernst Boris Chain, Sir Ernst Boris Chain
			British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚living thing; animate thing ╚organism; being ╚person; individual; someone; somebody; mortal; human; soul ╚scientist; man of science ╚chemist ╚biochemist ╚Chain, Ernst Boris Chain, Sir Ernst Boris Chain
	10	chain
			a unit of length
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚measure; quantity; amount ╚linear measure; long measure ╚linear unit ╚chain ╚nautical chain ╚engineer's chain ╚Gunter's chain
B	verb
	1	chain
			fasten or secure with chains; "Chain the chairs together"
		Category Tree: connect; link; tie; link up ╚attach ╚fasten; fix; secure ╚chain
	2	chain
			connect or arrange into a chain by linking
		Category Tree: move; displace ╚put; set; place; pose; position; lay ╚arrange; set up ╚chain ╚concatenate

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Forum discussions with the word(s) 'chain' in the title:

end of the industrial chain
pull one's chain
chain of title documentation
I am trying to jerk your chain
"drive train" vs. "jive chain"
Many a + wear that ball and chain
why use a scalpel when a chain saw will do?
is part of ... theatre chain
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