chain

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
• A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
• A long measuring tape.
• A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres, 4 rods, or 100 links.
• A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
• 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.
• 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.
• The warp threads of a web.

Verb

• To fasten something with a chain.
• To connect as if with a chain, due to dependence, addiction, or other feelings
• To link multiple items together.
• To secure someone with fetters.
• To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
• To obligate.
• To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
• To be chained to another data item.
• To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
• To load and automatically run (a program).

Related

Similar words

• rackle

Origin

• From Middle English cheyne, chaine, from Old French chaine, chaene, from Latin catēna ("chain"), from Proto-Indo-European *kat- ("to braid, twist; hut, shed"). catena.