chain
/tʃeɪn/ (bre, ipa) · [tʃˈen] /tʃeɪn/ (ame, ipa) · [tʃˈen] /ˈchān/ (ame, mw)
chain — noun
- chainsingular
- chainsplural
1. a connected row or sequence of similar things or people, with each part followin
a connected row or sequence of similar things or people, with each part following or joining the next
Volunteers formed a chain to pass water bottles down the crowded street.
form a chain
A chain of small islands stretches across the blue water south of Okinawa.
The child made a paper chain for the classroom winter party.
One weak link broke, and the chain of lanterns fell from the wall.
文法句型
a chain of + plural noun
form a chain
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' to name the linked items. Distinguish from sense 3, where the links are events or causes rather than physical items or people.
2. a row of mountains joined to each other to make one range
a row of mountains joined to each other to make one range
The train crossed a mountain chain before reaching the coastal city.
collocation: mountain chain
Snow stayed on that chain of peaks long after spring arrived.
From the plane, Mei saw a dark chain of hills below.
Maps in the museum showed the volcanic chain running through the islands.
- range
the more common general word for a connected group of mountains
文法句型
a mountain chain
a chain of mountains
用法筆記
Usually appears in geography or travel writing with words such as 'mountain' or 'volcanic'.
3. a run of related events in which one step leads to the next
a run of related events in which one step leads to the next
One missed email started a chain of problems for the travel team.
a chain of problems
The falling tree set off a chain of accidents on the wet road.
set off a chain of ...
A short power cut triggered a chain of delays across the airport.
The book explains the chain of events that led to the strike.
- sequence
focuses on order, sometimes with less emphasis on cause
- progression
suggests development from one stage to another
文法句型
a chain of events
set off a chain of + plural noun
用法筆記
Usually abstract. Unlike sense 1, this sense is about causes and results rather than objects or people in a line.
4. a company network of stores, hotels, restaurants, or similar businesses under th
a company network of stores, hotels, restaurants, or similar businesses under the same ownership
The coffee chain opened its first branch in Kaohsiung this spring.
collocation: coffee chain
Small bakeries worried when the supermarket chain moved into the town.
collocation: supermarket chain
Heloísa manages three stores for an international hotel chain.
That clothing chain closed thirty shops after sales fell again.
- franchise
close in business use, but often stresses licensing arrangements
- brand network
broader business phrase for related outlets
文法句型
a hotel chain
a supermarket chain
part of a chain
用法筆記
Focuses on shared ownership and management. A single shop can be part of a chain, but the word usually names the whole business group.
常見錯誤
5. a flexible line of linked metal rings used to lock, pull, hang, or decorate some
a flexible line of linked metal rings used to lock, pull, hang, or decorate something
Jude locked the gate with a thick chain and a brass padlock.
lock something with a chain
A silver chain hung from the old watch in the wooden drawer.
The dog pulled against the chain until the post shook.
Workers lowered the motor by chain from the ceiling beam.
文法句型
a chain
a chain around + noun
put the chain on the door
用法筆記
This sense can refer to one piece of chain, the material itself, or a jewellery chain. In 'put the chain on the door', it means the short safety chain inside a door.
常見錯誤
6. linked metal loops fitted around a car tire to help it grip snowy or icy roads
linked metal loops fitted around a car tire to help it grip snowy or icy roads
Before the storm, Eli put chains on the truck's front tires.
put chains on the tires
Road signs warned drivers to carry chains beyond the mountain tunnel.
The rental car slid once, so Salma stopped to fit the chains.
- snow chains
full form, especially common outside specialist contexts
文法句型
put chains on the tires
carry chains
用法筆記
Usually plural in everyday use. American English often says 'snow chains' for extra clarity.
常見錯誤
7. the field-measuring equipment in American football, made of two posts joined by
the field-measuring equipment in American football, made of two posts joined by a chain and used to check a first down
The chains showed the runner was inches short of a first down.
the chains — football measuring equipment
Television viewers waited while the referee called for the chains.
Mud on the field made it hard for the crew to place the chains.
- chain crew markers
descriptive phrase for the same equipment
文法句型
bring out the chains
measure with the chains
用法筆記
Usually called 'the chains' because the measuring device is used as a set on the field.
8. the state of being fastened or held with metal chains
the state of being fastened or held with metal chains
The prisoners were kept in chains during the long march north.
be in chains
In the film, the giant breaks his chains and runs for the gate.
break your chains
Old drawings showed workers in chains beside the stone wall.
文法句型
be in chains
keep someone in chains
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'in chains'. Distinguish from sense 9, which is figurative rather than literal.
9. anything that keeps a person or group from acting freely
anything that keeps a person or group from acting freely
Debt can become a chain that keeps a family from moving forward.
figurative use: a chain that keeps someone from ...
Many writers saw censorship as a chain on free thought.
After leaving the gang, Niran spoke about breaking every old chain.
Fear of failure is often the hardest chain to cut.
- restraint
formal and general
- constraint
often used for limits on action or choice
- bond
can suggest a tie that restricts freedom
文法句型
the chains of + abstract noun
break a chain
用法筆記
Often figurative and emotional, used with words such as debt, fear, or oppression. Distinguish from sense 8, which is literal.
10. a connected set of house sales where each buyer must sell before the next purcha
a connected set of house sales where each buyer must sell before the next purchase can finish
Their offer fell apart because the buyers were stuck in a chain.
be in a chain
The lawyer asked whether the flat sale depended on a long chain.
One late survey delayed the whole chain of house purchases.
- property chain
full form used for clarity in housing discussions
文法句型
be in a chain
a long chain
用法筆記
Mainly British property language. It describes several dependent sales, not a physical chain.
11. an old surveying measure worth 66 feet, or a little over 20 metres
an old surveying measure worth 66 feet, or a little over 20 metres
The old map marked the farm as ten chains from the river.
ten chains
Survey notes said the fence ran three chains along the road.
Students learned that one chain equals sixty-six feet in old measurements.
文法句型
ten chains
three chains long
用法筆記
Mostly found in older maps, surveying, and historical writing.
12. a connected row of atoms or attached groups within a molecule
a connected row of atoms or attached groups within a molecule
The teacher drew a carbon chain across the board during chemistry class.
collocation: carbon chain
Heating changed the side chain attached to the main molecule.
collocation: side chain
This plastic is strong because its polymer chains pack closely together.
- chemical chain
descriptive phrase for the same structure
文法句型
a carbon chain
a side chain
polymer chains
用法筆記
Used in chemistry, especially when describing carbon atoms in organic compounds.
chain — verb
- chainpresent simple I / you / we / they
- chains3rd person singular
- chaining-ing form
- chainedpast simple
1. to lock, tie, or hold someone or something with a chain
to lock, tie, or hold someone or something with a chain
Farm workers chained the gate before the cattle truck arrived.
chain + object
Protesters chained themselves to the fence outside the factory.
chain yourself to + object
The museum chained the bicycle to a post for the outdoor display.
Kemi chained the boat to the dock before the tide turned.
文法句型
chain + object + to + place
chain yourself to + object
用法筆記
Often describes restraint or protest scenes. The object after 'to' is the place or thing used as the anchor.
常見錯誤
2. to link separate objects so they become one long connected line
to link separate objects so they become one long connected line
Marco chained the paper clips together to make a classroom toy.
chain + objects + together
Workers chained short metal bars into a long barrier for the parade.
chain + objects + into + noun
The jeweller chained tiny silver rings into a delicate bracelet.
An art class chained coloured bottle caps into a hanging curtain.
文法句型
chain + objects + together
chain + objects + into + noun
用法筆記
Usually about physically linking small objects. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about ordering actions or steps.
3. to connect actions, commands, or events so they happen in order as one sequence
to connect actions, commands, or events so they happen in order as one sequence
The app lets users chain commands together with one simple click.
chain commands together
Editors chained several short scenes to create a faster opening sequence.
The factory chained three checks together before shipping each box.
- sequence
stresses arranging steps in the right order
- string together
phrasal verb with a similar idea of joining steps or events
文法句型
chain + commands + together
chain + events + together
用法筆記
Common in computing, film editing, and process descriptions. The linked things happen as a sequence rather than forming a physical line.