chain

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noun, often attributive \ ˈchān \

Definition of chain

1 a :a series of usually metal links or rings connected to or fitted into one another and used for various purposes (such as support, restraint, transmission of mechanical power, or measurement)

b :a series of links used or worn as an ornament or insignia

c (1) :a measuring instrument of 100 links used in surveying

(2) :a unit of length equal to 66 feet (about 20 meters)

2 :something that confines, restrains, or secures

3 a :a series of things linked, connected, or associated together

a chain of events

a mountain chain

b :a group of enterprises or institutions of the same kind or function usually under a single ownership, management, or control

fast-food chains

c :a number of atoms or chemical groups united like links in a chain

See chain defined for English-language learners

See chain defined for kids

Examples of chain in a Sentence

We'll need 25 feet of chain for the pulley.
The new book chronicles the chain of events leading up to the crime.
They own a chain of organic grocery stores.
The hotel chain recently opened a new hotel in Hong Kong.

Recent Examples of chain from the Web

Rather, at Wahlburgers, the family's eponymous burger chain that will soon be coming to the former Pi Pizzeria space in Downtown's AT560 building at Sixth and Main streets.

— mallorie sullivan, Cincinnati.com, "5 things you need to know about Wahlburgers," 30 Aug. 2017
Amazon acquired the supermarket chain earlier this year.

— bob bong, Daily Southtown, "Comings & Goings: Oak Lawn Kmart to close in November," 29 Aug. 2017
The grocery chain long known as high quality/high cost now is selling items for less than a whole paycheck.

— editors, USA TODAY, "Harvey's flooding could leave 30,000 displaced. And it's set to get worse.," 28 Aug. 2017
Put fresh gasoline in your chain saw and test run it.

— roy berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "The Homeowner's Last-Minute Hurricane Prep Checklist," 25 Aug. 2017
This coming fall, BBX will also be opening pizza locations in Coral Springs, Kendall and Miami after announcing in 2016 a partnership with MOD Pizza to become the national fast-casual chain’s Florida franchisee.

— by andrea januta, miamiherald, "How chocolate and pizza helped a bank’s once-parent company rebound after the 2008 crash," 13 Aug. 2017
Dave & Buster's is a popular bar and restaurant chain that doubles as an entertainment hub and recently signed a tenant deal with the East End mall.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Mall St. Matthews food court to get major renovation," 10 Aug. 2017
But under certain conditions what appears to be Home Depot marble becomes an explosive powerful enough to trigger a chain reaction in a pile of plutonium.

— michael lewis, The Hive, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 2 Aug. 2017
The larger of the two excavators dropped chain link doors from the old kennels into a separate pile.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Old animal shelter razed in Porter County," 2 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chain

Middle English cheyne, from Anglo-French chaene, from Latin catena

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

chain Synonyms

chain

verb

Definition of chain

transitive verb

1 :to obstruct or protect by a chain

2 :to fasten, bind, or connect with or as if with a chain; also :fetter

See chain defined for English-language learners

Examples of chain in a Sentence

She chained her bicycle to the post and went inside.
chaining up the dog in the backyard

Recent Examples of chain from the Web

Research has found that for people chained to their office, there eventually are diminishing returns.

— adam h. beasley, miamiherald, "Dolphins players know to keep phones by their beds. ‘Night owl’ Gase will be calling," 30 Aug. 2017
Many have been abandoned; there have been reports of journalists and rescuers finding dogs chained to trees outside, for example.

— kirsten korosec, Fortune, "Hurricane Harvey Has Displaced Hundreds of Pets. Here’s How You Can Help," 29 Aug. 2017
Studying them keeps us chained to the dreary present, away from the world of possibility.

— elliot kaufman, National Review, "Universities Can Learn from Conservatives’ Love of Humanities," 18 Aug. 2017
Black people were chained together in Virginia and the Carolinas and marched to Georgia, to Florida, to Mississippi, to Texas.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "The 1850s Response to the Racism of 2017," 16 Aug. 2017
Cersei got her revenge on Ellaria by chaining her to the wall and forcing her to watch her daughter die by poison.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "Game of Thrones Is Getting Close to Confirming This Lannister Fan Theory," 1 Aug. 2017
Think of it as a type of public ledger — when someone uses bitcoins to buy something, the blockchain records the transaction one after the other in blocks of code, each chained to the other.

— sonia zhuravlyova, MSNBC Newsweek, "The Future of Money: Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrency Technologies Are a Way of Life in This Small Swiss Town," 11 July 2017
Because of the nature of her job, she was chained to the 24-hour news cycle.

— jessica militare, Glamour, "These Women Prove That Work Burnout is Real—and Beatable," 6 July 2017
Two larger dogs were chained outside of the structure.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Citing conflicts, Lake County judges bow out of alleged puppy mill case," 30 June 2017

First Known Use of chain

14th century

chain Synonyms

Synonyms

bind, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, shackle, trammel

Antonyms

unbind, unfetter, unshackle

Related Words

bit, hobble, hog-tie, iron, lash, secure, tie, truss; attach, fasten, join, link; confine, constrain, curb, hamper, hinder, impede; limit, restrict; entangle, tangle

Near Antonyms

emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue; undo, unfasten, untangle, untie; detach, disengage

Chain

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biographical name \ ˈchān \

Definition of Chain

Sir Ernst Boris 1906–1979 British (German-born) biochemist

CHAIN Defined for English Language Learners

chain

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noun

Definition of chain for English Language Learners

: a series of usually metal links or rings that are connected to each other in a line and used for supporting heavy things, for holding things together, for decoration, etc.
: a chain that is attached to the arms or legs of a prisoner
: a series or group of things or people that are connected to each other in some way

chain

verb

Definition of chain for English Language Learners

: to fasten, hold, or connect (someone or something) with a chain

CHAIN Defined for Kids

chain

play

noun \ ˈchān \

Definition of chain for Students

1 :a series of connected links or rings usually of metal

She wore a gold chain around her neck.

2 :a series of things joined together as if by links

a chain of mountains

a chain of events

3 :a group of businesses that have the same name and sell the same products or services

a chain of grocery stores

chain

verb

Definition of chain for Students

chained; chaining

:to fasten, bind, or connect with or as if with a chain

I chained my bike to a tree.

Medical Dictionary

chain

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noun \ ˈchān \

medical Definition of chain

1 :a series of things (as bacteria) linked, connected, or associated together

2 :a number of atoms or chemical groups united like links in a chain

Learn More about chain

See words that rhyme with chain Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chain Spanish Central: Translation of chain Nglish: Translation of chain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chain

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chain

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chain Synonyms

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Chain

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CHAIN Defined for English Language Learners

chain

Definition of chain for English Language Learners

chain

Definition of chain for English Language Learners

CHAIN Defined for Kids

chain

Definition of chain for Students

chain

Definition of chain for Students

Medical Dictionary

chain

medical Definition of chain

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