Definitions for chain
tʃeɪncha·in

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chain, concatenationnoun

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

   "the chain of command"; "a complicated concatenation of circumstances"

2. chain, chemical chainnoun

   (chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)

3. chainnoun

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

4. chainnoun

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

5. chainnoun

   anything that acts as a restraint

6. chainnoun

   a unit of length

7. Chain, Ernst Boris Chain, Sir Ernst Boris Chainnoun

   British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)

8. range, mountain range, range of mountains, chain, mountain chain, chain of mountainsnoun

   a series of hills or mountains

   "the valley was between two ranges of hills"; "the plains lay just beyond the mountain range"

9. chainnoun

   a linked or connected series of objects

   "a chain of daisies"

10. chain, string, strandverb

    a necklace made by a stringing objects together

    "a string of beads"; "a strand of pearls";

11. chainverb

    connect or arrange into a chain by linking

12. chainverb

    fasten or secure with chains

    "Chain the chairs together"

Wiktionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. chainnoun

   A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.

   He wore a gold chain around the neck.

2. chainnoun

   A series of interconnected things.

   This led to an unfortunate chain of events.

3. chainnoun

   A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.

   That chain of restaurants is expanding into our town.

4. chainnoun

   A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.

   When examined, the molecular chain included oxygen and hydrogen.

5. chainnoun

   A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.

6. chainnoun

   A long measuring tape.

7. chainnoun

   A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres. Equal to 4 rods. Equal to 100 links.

8. chainnoun

   A sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).

9. chainverb

   To fasten something with a chain

10. chainverb

    To link multiple items together

11. chainverb

    To secure someone with fetters

12. chainverb

    To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain

13. chainverb

    To relate data items with a chain of pointers.

14. chainverb

    To be chained to another data item.

15. chainverb

    To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.

16. chainverb

    To load and automatically run (a program).

17. Etymology: From chaeine (French: chaîne), from catena.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. CHAINnoun

   Etymology: chaine, Fr.

   1. A series of links fastened one within another.

   And Pharaoh took off his ring, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and put a gold chain about his neck. Gen. xli. 42.

   2. A bond; a manacle; a fetter; something with which prisoners are bound.

   Still in constraint your suff’ring sex remains,
   Or bound in formal, or in real chains. Alexander Pope.

   3. A line of links with which land is measured.

   A surveyour may as soon, with his chain, measure out infinite space, as a philosopher, by the quickest flight of mind, reach it, or, by thinking, comprehend it. John Locke.

   4. A series linked together.

   Those so mistake the Christian religion, as to think it is only a chain of fatal decrees, to deny all liberty of man’s choice toward good or evil. Henry Hammond.

   As there is pleasure in the right exercise of any faculty, so especially in that of right reasoning; which is still the greater, by how much the consequences are more clear, and the chains of them more long. Thomas Burnet, Theory of the Earth.

2. To Chainverb

   Etymology: from the noun.

   1. To fasten or link with a chain.

   They repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   The mariners he chained in his own galleys for slaves. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

   Or, march’d I chain’d behind the hostile car,
   The victor’s pastime, and the sport of war? Matthew Prior.

   They, with joint force oppression chaining, set
   Imperial justice at the helm. James Thomson.

   2. To bring into slavery.

   This world, ’tis true,
   Was made for Cæsar, but for Titus too:
   And which more blest? who chain’d his country, say,
   Or he, whose virtue sigh’d to lose a day? Alexander Pope.

   3. To put on a chain.

   The admiral seeing the mouth of the haven chained, and the castles full of ordnance, and strongly manned, durst not attempt to enter. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

   4. To unite.

   O Warwick, I do bend my knee with thine,
   And in this vow do chain my soul with thine. William Shakespeare, Henry VI. p. iii.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Chainnoun

   a series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and transmission of mechanical power, etc

2. Chainnoun

   that which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as, the chains of habit

3. Chainnoun

   a series of things linked together; or a series of things connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas

4. Chainnoun

   an instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring land

5. Chainnoun

   iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels

6. Chainnoun

   the warp threads of a web

7. Chainverb

   to fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog

8. Chainverb

   to keep in slavery; to enslave

9. Chainverb

   to unite closely and strongly

10. Chainverb

    to measure with the chain

11. Chainverb

    to protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor

12. Etymology: [F. chane, fr. L. catena. Cf. Catenate.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Chain

   A chain is a series of connected links which are typically made of metal. A chain may consist of two or more links. Chains are usually made in one of two styles, according to their intended use: ⁕Those designed for lifting, such as when used with a hoist; for pulling; or for securing, such as with a bicycle lock, have links that are torus shaped, which make the chain flexible in two dimensions ⁕Those designed for transferring power in machines have links designed to mesh with the teeth of the sprockets of the machine, and are flexible in only one dimension. They are known as roller chains, though there are also non-roller chains such as block chain. Two distinct chains can be connected using a quick link which resembles a carabiner with a screw close rather than a latch.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Chain

   chān, n. a series of links or rings passing through one another: a number of things coming after each other: anything that binds: a connected course or train of events: in surveying, often called Gunter's chain, a measure of 100 links, 66 feet long (10 sq. chains make an acre): (pl.) fetters, bonds, confinement generally.—v.t. to fasten: to fetter: to restrain: (Shak.) to embrace.—ns. Chain′-arm′our, chain-mail; Chain′-bolt, a large bolt used to secure the chain-plates to the ship's side; Chain′-bridge, a bridge suspended on chains: a suspension-bridge; Chain′-cā′ble, a cable composed of iron links.—p.adj. Chained, bound or fastened, as with a chain: fitted with a chain.—n. Chain′-gang, a gang of convicts chained together.—adj. Chain′less, without chains: unfettered.—ns. Chain′let, a small chain; Chain′-mail, mail or armour made of iron links connected together, much used in Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries; Chain′-mould′ing, moulding in the form of a chain; Chain′-pier, a pier supported by chains like a chain-bridge.—n.pl. Chain′-plates, on shipboard, iron plates bolted below the channels to serve as attachments for the dead-eyes, through which the standing rigging or shrouds and back-stays are rove and secured.—ns. Chain′-pump, a pump consisting of buckets or plates fastened to an endless iron chain, and used for raising water; Chain′-rule, an arithmetical rule, so called from the terms of the problem being stated as equations, and connected, as if by a chain, so as to obtain by one operation the same result as would be obtained by a number of different operations in simple proportion: the rule for solving problems by compound proportion; Chain′-shot, two bullets or half-bullets fastened together by a chain, used formerly in naval engagements to destroy rigging, now replaced by case-shot and shrapnel-shell; Chain′-stitch, a peculiar kind of stitch resembling the links of a chain; Chain′-work, work consisting of threads, cords, &c., wrought with open spaces like the links of a chain: network. [Fr. chaine—L. catēna.]

The New Hacker's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chain

   1. vi. [orig. from BASIC's CHAIN statement] To hand off execution to a child or successor without going through the OS command interpreter that invoked it. The state of the parent program is lost and there is no returning to it. Though this facility used to be common on memory-limited micros and is still widely supported for backward compatibility, the jargon usage is semi-obsolescent; in particular, most Unix programmers will think of this as an exec. Oppose the more modern subshell. 2. n. A series of linked data areas within an operating system or application. Chain rattling is the process of repeatedly running through the linked data areas searching for one which is of interest to the executing program. The implication is that there is a very large number of links on the chain.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chain

   When mountains, hills, lakes, and islands are linked together, or follow each other in succession, so that their whole length greatly exceeds their breadth, they form what is termed a chain. A measuring chain is divided into links, &c., made of stout wire, because line is apt to shrink on wet ground and give way. The chain measure is 66 feet.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chain

   A chain made of a kind of wire, divided into links of an equal length, is made use of by military engineers for setting out works on the ground, because cord lines are apt to shrink and give way.

Rap Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. chain

   chain used as a necklace usually silver,platinum or gold ,usually with a symbol or other cool item hanging from it Do your chain hang low, Do it wobble to the flo', Do it shine in the light, Is it platinum, Is it gold, Could you throw it over ya shoulda, If ya hot, it make ya cold, Do your chain hang low,

Matched Categories

1. • Arrange
   • Biochemist
   • Business
   • Commercial Enterprise
   • Fasten
   • Geological Formation
   • Ligament
   • Linear Unit
   • Necklace
   • Restraint

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'chain' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2821

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'chain' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2761

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'chain' in Nouns Frequency: #925

Anagrams for chain »

1. china

2. China

3. chian

How to pronounce chain?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say chain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of chain in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of chain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of chain in a Sentence

1. Kinngai Chan:

   We think the entire semiconductor supply chain will be caught up by 4Q21 as we believe there’s rampant double ordering in the supply chain coupled with a moderating end-market demand.

2. Hugh Jackman:

   Conscious consumerism is really a phenomenal movement, i think that people now want to know that when they drink a cup of coffee, that ride along the supply chain hooks people up.

3. Gene Seroka:

   We saw the number of imports move off the docks into the domestic supply chain much more quickly, once we announced the threat of a penalty.

4. James Quincey:

   We're focused on maximizing system efficiency by ruthlessly prioritizing to deliver on core [ products ] and key brands, the less complexity there is in [ the supply chain ], the greater the chance for success.

5. United States:

   This has done significant economic harm to the American companies with which Huawei does business, and has already disrupted collaboration and undermined the mutual trust on which the global supply chain depends, we call on The US government to put an end to this unjust treatment and remove Huawei from the Entity List.

Popularity rank by frequency of use