Entry Word: chain

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a series of things linked together <the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain>

Synonyms concatenation, progression, sequence, string, train

Related Words chain reaction; belt, circle, cycle; continuum, gamut, scale, spectrum; flow, river, stream; file, line, queue, row, succession

2 something that makes movement or progress more difficult <this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice> — see encumbrance
3 something that physically prevents free movement <chains on the prisoner's ankles> — see bond 1