chain
♦ chain /tʃ'eɪn/ (chains chaining chained)
1 [N-COUNT]
A chain consists of metal rings connected together in a line.
His open shirt revealed a fat gold chain...
The dogs were leaping and growling at the full stretch of their chains.
2 [N-PLURAL] in N
If prisoners are in chains, they have thick rings of metal round their wrists or ankles to prevent them from escaping.
He'd spent four and a half years in windowless cells, much of the time in chains.
3 [VERB] be V-ed to n, V n to n, V-ed, also V n adv/prep
If a person or thing is chained to something, they are fastened to it with a chain.
The dog was chained to the leg of the one solid garden seat...
She chained her bike to the railings...
We were sitting together in our cell, chained to the wall.
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V-ed P, also V P n (not pron)
Chain up means the same as chain.
I'll lock the doors and chain you up...
All the rowing boats were chained up.
4 [N-COUNT] N of n
A chain of things is a group of them existing or arranged in a line.
...a chain of islands known as the Windward Islands...
Students tried to form a human chain around the parliament.
5 [N-COUNT] with supp
A chain of shops, hotels, or other businesses is a number of them owned by the same person or company.
...a large supermarket chain.
...Italy's leading chain of cinemas.
6 [N-SING] N of n
A chain of events is a series of them happening one after another.
...the bizarre chain of events that led to his departure in January 1938.
= series
7
see also food chainchain gang (chain gangs)
[N-COUNT]
In the United States, a chain gang is a group of prisoners who are chained together to do work outside their prison. Chain gangs existed especially in former times.chain let|ter (chain letters)
[N-COUNT]
A chain letter is a letter, often with a promise of money, that is sent to several people who send copies on to several more people. Chain letters are illegal in some countries.chain mail
[N-UNCOUNT]
Chain mail is a kind of armour made from small metal rings joined together so that they look like cloth.chain re|ac|tion (chain reactions)
1 [N-COUNT]
A chain reaction is a series of chemical changes, each of which causes the next.
2 [N-COUNT]
A chain reaction is a series of events, each of which causes the next.
The powder immediately ignited and set off a chain reaction of explosions.chain saw (chain saws)
also chainsaw
[N-COUNT]
A chain saw is a big saw with teeth fixed in a chain that is driven round by a motor.chain store (chain stores)
also chain-store
[N-COUNT]
A chain store is one of several similar shops that are owned by the same person or company, especially one that sells a variety of things.chain up
see chain 3dai|sy chain (daisy chains)
also daisy-chain
[N-COUNT]
A daisy chain is a string of daisies that have been joined together by their stems to make a necklace. (mainly BRIT)food chain (food chains)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The food chain is a series of living things which are linked to each other because each thing feeds on the one next to it in the series.
The whole food chain is affected by the over use of chemicals in agriculture.
1 [N-COUNT]
A chain consists of metal rings connected together in a line.
His open shirt revealed a fat gold chain...
The dogs were leaping and growling at the full stretch of their chains.
2 [N-PLURAL] in N
If prisoners are in chains, they have thick rings of metal round their wrists or ankles to prevent them from escaping.
He'd spent four and a half years in windowless cells, much of the time in chains.
3 [VERB] be V-ed to n, V n to n, V-ed, also V n adv/prep
If a person or thing is chained to something, they are fastened to it with a chain.
The dog was chained to the leg of the one solid garden seat...
She chained her bike to the railings...
We were sitting together in our cell, chained to the wall.
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V-ed P, also V P n (not pron)
Chain up means the same as chain.
I'll lock the doors and chain you up...
All the rowing boats were chained up.
4 [N-COUNT] N of n
A chain of things is a group of them existing or arranged in a line.
...a chain of islands known as the Windward Islands...
Students tried to form a human chain around the parliament.
5 [N-COUNT] with supp
A chain of shops, hotels, or other businesses is a number of them owned by the same person or company.
...a large supermarket chain.
...Italy's leading chain of cinemas.
6 [N-SING] N of n
A chain of events is a series of them happening one after another.
...the bizarre chain of events that led to his departure in January 1938.
= series
7
see also food chainchain gang (chain gangs)
[N-COUNT]
In the United States, a chain gang is a group of prisoners who are chained together to do work outside their prison. Chain gangs existed especially in former times.chain let|ter (chain letters)
[N-COUNT]
A chain letter is a letter, often with a promise of money, that is sent to several people who send copies on to several more people. Chain letters are illegal in some countries.chain mail
[N-UNCOUNT]
Chain mail is a kind of armour made from small metal rings joined together so that they look like cloth.chain re|ac|tion (chain reactions)
1 [N-COUNT]
A chain reaction is a series of chemical changes, each of which causes the next.
2 [N-COUNT]
A chain reaction is a series of events, each of which causes the next.
The powder immediately ignited and set off a chain reaction of explosions.chain saw (chain saws)
also chainsaw
[N-COUNT]
A chain saw is a big saw with teeth fixed in a chain that is driven round by a motor.chain store (chain stores)
also chain-store
[N-COUNT]
A chain store is one of several similar shops that are owned by the same person or company, especially one that sells a variety of things.chain up
see chain 3dai|sy chain (daisy chains)
also daisy-chain
[N-COUNT]
A daisy chain is a string of daisies that have been joined together by their stems to make a necklace. (mainly BRIT)food chain (food chains)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The food chain is a series of living things which are linked to each other because each thing feeds on the one next to it in the series.
The whole food chain is affected by the over use of chemicals in agriculture.