chain
[noun]
Synonyms:
- link, bond, coupling, fetter, manacle, shackle
- series, progression, sequence, set, string, succession, train
[verb]
Synonyms:
- bind, confine, enslave, fetter, handcuff, manacle, restrain, shackle, tether

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. chain¹ S3 W2 /tʃeɪn/ noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chaeine, from Latin catena]

1. JOINED RINGS [uncountable and countable] a series of metal rings which are joined together in a line and used for fastening things, supporting weights, decoration etc ⇒ link:
She had a gold chain around her neck.
a length of heavy chain
the Mayor’s chain of office (=a decoration worn by some British officials at ceremonies)
pull the chain British English (=flush the toilet)
a bicycle chain (=that makes the wheels turn) ⇒ jewellery

2. CONNECTED EVENTS [countable] a connected series of events or actions, especially which lead to a final result:
the chain of events that led to World War I
The salesmen are just one link in the chain (=part of a process) of distribution.
a rather complicated chain of reasoning ⇒ chain of command, food chain

3. SHOPS/HOTELS [countable] a number of shops, hotels, cinemas etc owned or managed by the same company or person
chain of
a chain of restaurants
hotel/restaurant/retail etc chain
several major UK supermarket chains ⇒ chain store

4. CONNECTED LINE [countable] people or things which are connected or next to each other forming a line
mountain/island chain
the Andean mountain chain
chain of atoms/molecules etc technical:
a chain of amino acids
They formed a human chain (=a line of people who pass things from one person to the next) to move the equipment.
daisy chains (=flowers tied together)

5. PRISONERS [countable usually plural] metal chains fastened to the legs and arms of a prisoner, to prevent them from escaping
in chains
He was led away in chains.
ball and chain (=a chain attached to someone’s ankle at one end with a heavy metal ball at the other)

6. BUYING A HOUSE [countable usually singular] British English a number of people buying houses, where each person must complete the sale of their own house before they can buy the next person’s house

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. chain² verb

1. [transitive] to fasten someone or something to something else using a chain, especially in order to prevent them from escaping or being stolen
chain somebody/something to something
a bicycle chained to the fence
Four activists chained themselves to the gates.
chain somebody/something up
The elephants were chained up by their legs.
chain somebody/something together
Their hands and feet were chained together.

2. be chained to something to have your freedom restricted because of something you must do:
She felt chained to the kitchen sink.
I don’t want a job where I’m chained to a desk all day.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

chain
noun
I. line of rings joined together
ADJ. long She wore a long gold chain round her neck.
rusty | bicycle | daisy, paper
QUANT. length
CHAIN + VERB clank
CHAIN + NOUN mail (= armour made of chains)
PREP. in ~s The prisoner was led away in chains.
off sb's/the ~ Let the dog off its chain.
on a/the ~ They kept the dog on a chain all day long.
PHRASES a chain of office The mayor was wearing his chain of office.
a chain on the door Put the chain on the door before you go to bed.
a link in the chain

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

chain
II. number of things in a line
ADJ. island, mountain | human
VERB + CHAIN form The people formed a human chain to pass the supplies up the beach.
PREP. ~ of a chain of volcanic islands
PHRASES a chain of command (= a system by which instructions are passed from one person to another)

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

chain
III. group of shops, etc. owned by the same company
ADJ. big, large | small | hotel, supermarket, etc.
CHAIN + NOUN store
PREP. ~ of a chain of clothes shops
PHRASES part of a chain This hotel is part of a large chain.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

chain
IV. number of connected events/situations
ADJ. complex the complex chain of events that led to the war
unbroken There has been an unbroken chain of great violinists in the family.
causal | food efforts to ensure that dioxins do not enter the food chain
CHAIN + NOUN reaction
PHRASES a chain of events

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

chain

a big/major/large chain
It is one of Europe’s biggest clothing chains.
a hotel chain
Hilton is an international hotel chain.
a supermarket chain
Many people buy all their food at one of the major supermarket chains.
a retail chain (=one whose business is buying and selling goods)
Large retail chains usually want to expand and build more stores.
a department store/video store/food store etc chain
Morgan was the owner of a computer store chain.
a restaurant chain
the Pizza Hut restaurant chain
a grocery chain
These are two of Florida’s largest grocery chains.
a fast-food chain
the fast-food chain, Burger King
a national/nationwide chain
He was head of a national chain of grocery stores.
be part of a chain
The hotel is part of the MacDonald chain.
a mountain chain
The town of Besançon lies at the end of the Jura mountain chain.
an island chain
the island chain from Asia to Australasia
a human chain (=a large number of people who form a line, a circle etc to do something)
Riot police formed human chains to block demonstrators.
a chain of atoms/molecules etc technical:
Most fabrics are made of long chains of molecules.
form a chain
They formed a human chain passing buckets of water to the fire.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲