food chain

noun

1

: an arrangement of the organisms of an ecological community according to the order of predation in which each uses the next usually lower member as a food source

2

: a hierarchy based on power or importance

at the top of the corporate food chain

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

food chain

noun

: a series of organisms in which each uses the next usually lower member of the series as a food source