chain
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.
collocation: paper chain
One weak link broke, and the chain of lanterns fell from the wall.
- a chain of islands
- a chain of people
- a paper chain
- form a chain
Grammar Patterns
a chain of + plural noun
form a chain
Usage Note
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.
collocation: volcanic chain
- a mountain chain
- a chain of hills
- a volcanic chain
- cross a chain
- range
the more common general word for a connected group of mountains
Grammar Patterns
a mountain chain
a chain of mountains
Usage Note
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.
a chain of events
- a chain of events
- a chain of accidents
- trigger a chain
- break the chain
- sequence
focuses on order, sometimes with less emphasis on cause
- progression
suggests development from one stage to another
Grammar Patterns
a chain of events
set off a chain of + plural noun
Usage Note
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.
- a supermarket chain
- a hotel chain
- a clothing chain
- part of a chain
- franchise
close in business use, but often stresses licensing arrangements
- brand network
broader business phrase for related outlets
Grammar Patterns
a hotel chain
a supermarket chain
part of a chain
Usage Note
Focuses on shared ownership and management. A single shop can be part of a chain, but the word usually names the whole business group.
Common Mistakes
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.
by chain — using linked metal rings
- a heavy chain
- a silver chain
- put the chain on the door
- pull a chain
Grammar Patterns
a chain
a chain around + noun
put the chain on the door
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
fit the chains
- snow chains
- carry chains
- fit the chains
- snow chains
full form, especially common outside specialist contexts
Grammar Patterns
put chains on the tires
carry chains
Usage Note
Usually plural in everyday use. American English often says 'snow chains' for extra clarity.
Common Mistakes
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.
place the chains
- bring out the chains
- place the chains
- the chains crew
- chain crew markers
descriptive phrase for the same equipment
Grammar Patterns
bring out the chains
measure with the chains
Usage Note
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.
- be in chains
- keep someone in chains
- break your chains
Grammar Patterns
be in chains
keep someone in chains
Usage Note
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.
break a chain
Fear of failure is often the hardest chain to cut.
- the chains of debt
- break the chains
- cut the chain
- restraint
formal and general
- constraint
often used for limits on action or choice
- bond
can suggest a tie that restricts freedom
Grammar Patterns
the chains of + abstract noun
break a chain
Usage Note
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.
the whole chain
- be in a chain
- a long chain
- the chain collapses
- property chain
full form used for clarity in housing discussions
Grammar Patterns
be in a chain
a long chain
Usage Note
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.
one chain equals sixty-six feet
- ten chains
- three chains long
- one chain equals sixty-six feet
Grammar Patterns
ten chains
three chains long
Usage Note
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.
collocation: polymer chains
- a carbon chain
- a side chain
- polymer chains
- chemical chain
descriptive phrase for the same structure
Grammar Patterns
a carbon chain
a side chain
polymer chains
Usage Note
Used in chemistry, especially when describing carbon atoms in organic compounds.
a ball and chain
idioma person, duty, or problem that makes someone feel tied down and unable to do what they want
He joked that the endless paperwork had become a ball and chain around his ankle.
The old debt felt like a ball and chain whenever Mina tried to make a fresh start.
a link in the chain
idiomone stage or part in a process where each part depends on the next
Packing is only one link in the chain that gets the fruit from farm to store.
A missed safety check became the weakest link in the chain of repairs.
the person, stage, or part most likely to fail and cause trouble for the whole system
The old bridge was the weak link in the chain of supply routes.
Managers discovered that late data entry was the weak link in the chain.
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.
chain + object + to + place
Kemi chained the boat to the dock before the tide turned.
- chain the gate
- chain yourself to
- chain the boat to the dock
Grammar Patterns
chain + object + to + place
chain yourself to + object
Usage Note
Often describes restraint or protest scenes. The object after 'to' is the place or thing used as the anchor.
Common Mistakes
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.
- chain rings together
- chain items into a line
- chain pieces into a bracelet
Grammar Patterns
chain + objects + together
chain + objects + into + noun
Usage Note
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.
chain checks together
- chain commands together
- chain events together
- chain checks together
- sequence
stresses arranging steps in the right order
- string together
phrasal verb with a similar idea of joining steps or events
Grammar Patterns
chain + commands + together
chain + events + together
Usage Note
Common in computing, film editing, and process descriptions. The linked things happen as a sequence rather than forming a physical line.
Word family
- chainedadjectiveB2
- chain reactionnounB2
- chain storenounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
A chain suggests that the parts are directly linked or affect one another. A series is more general and may simply mean several things in order. A sequence focuses on order in time or steps. A string often suggests many similar items or events in a row, sometimes with a more informal tone.
Common collocations
Etymology
English chain came through Anglo-French from Latin catena, carrying the idea of linked rings or bonds.
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb