Chain meaning

What does “chain” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“chain” is a noun and verb with 12 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a series of things depending on each other as if linked together.

chain

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
“the chain of command”
“a complicated concatenation of circumstances”
Synonymsconcatenation
(chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)
Synonymschemical chain
a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
(business) a number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership
anything that acts as a restraint
a unit of length
British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)
SynonymsErnst Boris Chain Sir Ernst Boris Chain
a series of hills or mountains
“the valley was between two ranges of hills”
“the plains lay just beyond the mountain range”
Synonymsrange mountain range range of mountains mountain chain chain of mountains
a linked or connected series of objects
“a chain of daisies”
a necklace made by stringing objects together
“a string of beads”
“a strand of pearls”
Synonymsstring strand

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University