chain

IPA: tʃˈeɪn

A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
A series of interconnected things.
A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.
(chemistry) A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
(surveying) A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
(surveying) A long measuring tape.
A unit of length, exactly equal to 22 yards, 4 rods or 100 links, and approximately equal to 20.12 metres; the length of a Gunter's surveying chain; the length of a cricket pitch.
(mathematics, set theory, 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.
(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.
A livery collar, a chain of office.
(weaving) The warp threads of a web.
A surname.

(transitive) To fasten something with a chain.
(figurative) To connect as if with a chain, due to dependence, addiction, or other feelings
(intransitive) To link multiple items together.
(transitive) To secure someone with fetters.
(transitive) To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
(figurative) To obligate.
(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).

Examples of "chain" in Sentences