chain meaning
EN
[ˈt͡ʃeɪn] [-eɪn] 
US WChain
- A chain is a series of connected links which are typically made of metal. A chain may consist of two or more links.
- Chains are usually made in one of two styles, according to their intended use:
- Those designed for lifting, such as when used with a hoist; for pulling; or for securing, such as with a bicycle lock, have links that are torus shaped, which make the chain flexible in two dimensions (The fixed third dimension being a chain's length.
- Those designed for transferring power in machines have links designed to mesh with the teeth of the sprockets of the machine, and are flexible in only one dimension.
- NounPLchainsSUF-ain
- A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
- He wore a gold chain around the neck.
- A series of interconnected things.
- a chain of mountains
- a chain of ideas, one leading to the next
- This led to an unfortunate chain of events.
- A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.
- That chain of restaurants is expanding into our town.
- (chemistry) A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
- When examined, the molecular chain included oxygen and hydrogen.
- (surveying) A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
- (surveying) A long measuring tape.
- A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres. Equal to 4 rods. Equal to 100 links.
- (mathematics, order theory) A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
- (Britain) A sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).
- That which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond.
- the chains of habit
- (nautical, in the plural) Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
- (weaving) The warp threads of a web.
- A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
- VerbSGchainsPRchainingPT, PPchained
- (transitive) To fasten something with a chain.
- (intransitive) To link multiple items together.
- (transitive) To secure someone with fetters.
- (transitive) To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
- (computing) To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
- (computing) To be chained to another data item.
- (transitive) To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
- (transitive, computing, rare, associated with Acorn Computers) To load and automatically run (a program).
- (transitive) To fasten something with a chain.
- More Examples
- Used in the Middle of Sentence
- Lipid peroxidation susceptibility is commonly assessed by the peroxidability index (PI), which is based on the number of unsaturations present in the fatty acid chain [25 ].
- Crowding forces are known to support self-association of polynucleosomal chains [39 ].
- By introducing peptide isosteres, modifying the side chains of amino acids, and methylating amide nitrogens to depeptidize the molecule, the methylated Analog 7 was identified [ …]
- Used in the Ending of Sentence
- It's a tough stretch of road in the winter, especially without chains.
- And since the spring of 1995, no game of telephone has ended without some Simpsons-loving smart-ass dropping “purple monkey dishwasher” into the chain.
- Chairman Yu is a tycoon who owns multiple hotel chains.
- Used in the Middle of Sentence
Definition of chain in English Dictionary
- Part-of-Speech Hierarchy
- Nouns
- Countable nouns
- Countable nouns
- Verbs
- Intransitive verbs
- Transitive verbs
- Intransitive verbs
- Nouns
Source: Wiktionary
Grammatically, this word "chain" is a noun, more specifically, a countable noun. It's also a verb, more specifically, an intransitive verb and a transitive verb.