chain meaning and definition

CHAIN noun

Definition of chain (noun)

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

CHAIN verb

Definition of chain (verb)

1. connect or arrange into a chain by linking
2. fasten or secure with chains
   • "Chain the chairs together"
   • antonym: unchain